DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 339 
the summer or autumn, take the earliest opportunity, in 
the spring succeeding, to stir up the bed one spit, and 
take off one and a half inch of the soil; then place the 
plants in an upright position on the surface, six inches 
apart each way, and replace the soil carefully, which will 
cover the crown of the Ranunculus about one and one- 
half inch; deeper planting would be injurious. After 
the plants appear, keep them free from weeds and press 
the soil firmly around them after they get two inches 
high. If the weather prove dry, water them freely early 
in the morning, and shade them from the sun from 9 A. 
M., to 8 o’clock, P. M. As soon as the foliage becomes 
yellow, take the roots up, and dry them thoroughly in 
the shade, and keep them in a dry place.” 
“The Ranunculus loves a cool and moist location, but 
no stagnant water should be permitted, nor should they 
be placed under the shade or drippings of trees. The 
morning sun, free circulation of air, and shade, as direct- 
ed, will ensure success.” 
The root of the Ranunculus is a cluster of small tubers, 
like claws, united in the crown, which send up several 
bipartite leaves and an erect, branched stem, eight or 
twelve inches high, with a terminating flower, variously 
colored. It is a native of the Levant, and was cultivated 
by Gerarde in 1596. Though rather a tender plant, in- 
numerable and highly beautiful double flowered varieties 
have been raised from seed, chiefly by the English florists, 
from the middle to the latter end of the last century. In 
a Dutch catalogue, about seven hundred varieties were 
named a few years since, and in an English catalogue 
about five hundred. 
Criterion for a fine Double Ranunculus.—The stem 
should be strong, straight, and from eight to twelve 
inches high, supporting a large well-formed blossom or 
corolla at least two inches in diameter, consisting of nu- 
