244 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



at least, were mentioned by Pliny. Why the name, 

 signifying a young frog or tadpole, was given to the 

 family is not apparent, for it does not appear satis- 

 factory to have alleged as a reason that one of the 

 species grew in marshy places. If any species would 

 justify the name it is S. aquatilis, the Common 

 Water Crowfoot, which grows thickly in many ditches 

 and ponds ; but this does not appear to have been 

 noticed by the Romans. The Persian Ranunculus is 

 the Ranunculus of the florist. It is said to be 

 a native of the Levant, and the Turks cultivated it, 

 under the name of Taroholos catmnarlaU, for several 

 ages before it was known in other parts of Europe. 

 Their account of its introduction is somewhat tradi- 

 tional, and is to the effect that a virgin, named Cara 

 Mustapha, first noticed among the herbage of the 

 fields this hitherto neglected flower, and decorated 

 the garden of the Seraglio with it. The flower at- 

 tracted the notice of the Sultan, upon which he 

 caused it to be brought from all parts of the East 

 where V£irietie3 could be found. This collection of 

 Ranunculus flowers was carefully preserved in the 

 Seraglio gardens alone, and only through bribery did 

 ut last some few roots find their way into other parts 

 of Europe. The Persian Ranunculus was imported into 

 this country, and cultivated by Gerarde as early as the 

 year 1596. It is not, imfortunately, so largely grown 

 as it was a few years ago, for it is deserved!}' esteemed 

 for the symmetry of its double blossoms, the bril- 

 liancy of its colours, and the great variety it displays. 

 In a weU-selected bed, such as we saw at Manchester 

 a few years ago, could be seen scarlet, purple, 

 crimson of every shade, yellow, white, and dark, 

 with others which are denominated selfs, and bi- 

 colonred sorts, with white, yellow, buff, or crimson 

 grounds, beautifully edged, spotted, mottled, shaded, 

 or striped in infinite variety. The sight of a well- 

 cultivated collection in full bloom presents to view a 

 charming open-air scene, and well calculated to fill 

 the spectator with admirationand delight. Unhappily 

 many of the fine varieties of twenty years ago have 

 become hopelessly lost, though fanciers of this flower 

 yet keep up select collections in different parts of the 

 country. They are also largely grown in France and 

 Germany. 



There are two distinct sections of the Ranunculus 

 of the florist. One is known as the " Turban," which 

 is quite distinct, and confined to a very few varieties. 

 The Scarlet Turban is much grown round London for 

 cutting and bunching for market flowers, these large, 

 full, handsome double flowers being much appre- 

 ciated. The other varieties of the Turban are the 

 Black, Citron, Crimson, Golden, Spotted, White, and 

 Yellow ; but it is possible these are resolvable into 

 about five distinct varieties. These have coarser and 

 broader loaves than the Persian varieties, the petals 



of the flowers are coarser, and the plants are of a. 

 hardier character. The other tj-pe is the Persian, of 

 which the English and Scotch Ranunculuses are im- 

 provements and additions. Many of these are not so- 

 double as their originals, and, hence, many are seed- 

 bearers. 



The foundation of aU good culture is the adaptatioa 

 of the compost or soil to the natural habits of the 

 plant. Experience teaches that the Ranunculus de- 

 lights in a rich, soft, brown loam. If, therefore, the- 

 natural soil of the garden in which it is intended 

 to plant the flower be unfavourable, the top spit of a 

 pasture of rather heavy and tenacious loam, but not 

 clayey quality— say one that wiU grow Buttercups— has 

 been found to suit the Asiatic species. To this maiden 

 soil it is necessary to add some fertilising agents. 

 Decayed stable aijd cow-dung, in equal quantities, 

 constituting about one-third, added to two-thirds of 

 loam, wiU, when mixed and thoroughly incorporated, 

 form a compost for the main depth of the bed, re- 

 serving a portion of the loam sufScient to make a to\>- 

 layer of soil two inches deep, to which a smaller 

 portion of manure may be added. The old growers 

 of the Ranunculus always condemned the practice of 

 placing the tubers in contact with fresh manure, on 

 the ground that it engenders disease in the roots and 

 consequent injury to the plants. 



The usual practice is to grow the flower in 

 a bed in an open and exposed part of the garden, 

 and pointing east and west. This is how one of 

 the most successful growers of the past generation 

 directed that the bed should be formed : — " Remove 

 the earth fifteen inches deep, and from three feet to 

 three feet four inches wide, and fill the bed with the 

 prepared compost to within two inches of the surface, 

 leave it thus a month, and then add the reserved top 

 soil. These operations are best done in autumn, that 

 time may be allowed for the earth to settle. Another 

 method, where the subsoU is light and very porous, 

 may be adopted. Excavate the bed fifteen inches 

 deep, lay in the bottom three inches of mingled 

 manure and loam, and then saturate it with manure- 

 water ; cow-dung, well stirred in water, will answer 

 the purpose. Next add three inches more of compost, 

 and saturate that layer; proceed to add two more 

 simUar layers, making a foot deep in the whole, and 

 after a week's settling, add three inches of good 

 healthy pulverised loam, with but little manure, in. 

 which to plant thp tubers." The rule was to make 

 the surface of the bed level, and not more than an 

 inch or two higher than the paths, in order that the 

 roots might be kept cool and moist ; and as the Ra- 

 nunculus thrives on a firm bottom, the compost should 

 not be disturbed at the time of planting more than is 

 just needful for the operation. During the winter 

 the surface will be benefited by being pointed up 



