THE ASIATIC RANUNCULUS. 



THE ASIATIC RANUNCULUS {R. Asiaticus).—YoVR. 

 Charms are Resplendent. 



The "full Ranunculus of glowing red" is a native of the 

 Levant, whence it was brought nearly three centuries ago. 

 Though it is the common garden Ranunculus, and greatly 

 admired when blooming, it is not so much cultivated as 

 its beauty merits. The varieties of this species are innumer- 

 able, and are constantly increased by plants raised from 

 seed, not any two seedlings producing flowers the same as 

 the parent. This peculiarity may, perhaps, have caused 

 it to be neglected by the professional florist. Varieties of 

 established character and colour can be perpetuated and 

 retained for a great number of years, by separating with 

 a penknife all the buds in the crown of the tuber from each 

 other, so that they will grow into independent plants. By 

 these means the risk of losing the variety is greatly lessened. 

 The flowers are brilliant in their tints, and may be enumer- 

 ated as coffee-coloured, crimson, gray, olive, orange, purple, 

 red, rosy, spotted, striped, yellow, white, &c. Scarcely any 

 plant offers such variety in colour, or anything so striking 

 to the eye. 



THE ASPHODEL.— My Regrets follow you 

 TO THE Grave. 



The Asphodel is an ornamental genus of plants of easy 

 culture, and may be increased rapidly. It affords much 

 nourishment to sheep in Apulia, where a large extent of land 



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