594 Cultivation of Plants. 
congeners. The principal forms are described at some length 
under the Liliacee. All, or nearly all, are hardy in Britain, 
though some of them will scarcely attain perfection except in 
the warmer parts. A deep, well-drained, tolerably rich loamy 
soil suits them admirably, and the addition of good leaf-mould 
or peat, and sharp sand where a little stiff, is all that can be 
desired. A reference to the descriptive details at pp. 501-511 
will give an idea of the many ways in which they may be em- 
ployed to embellish the garden, either in the mixed border, 
or in special plantations devoted exclusively to the species of 
this genus. 
The Crown Imperial is a noble plant in its different varieties, 
and will succeed best if treated generously, though it grows 
freely enough in ordinary garden soil. 
c. Culture of Ranuwneuluses and Anemones.—Under this 
head we refer to Ranunculus Asiaticus and R. Africanus, and 
Anemone Coronaria and A. hortensis, the progenitors of the 
numerous florist’s varieties in cultivation. The permanent 
rootstocks of these plants are composed of fascicled flesby tubers, 
and they are here associated with the bulbous plants simply on 
account of their being capable of sustaining life for a consider- 
able period out of the ground. Indeed, they will retain their 
vitality for one or even two years in a dry place, if protected 
from frost. The successful culture of these plants is attended 
with considerable difficulty, and this is especially the case with 
the double varieties. The single-flowered Anemones are, how- 
ever, hardier, and require no more than ordinary attention. 
A few years back the choice double-flowered varieties of both 
Anemone and Ranunculus were extensively cultivated, but at 
the present time they are comparatively rare. This is probably 
the result of exagyerated notions regarding the difficulties 
attending their culture. These are by no means so great as is 
generally supposed, though doubtless they are sufficient to cause 
those with little time on their hands to shrink from encounter- 
ingthem. One thing is absolutely necessary to ensure good and 
abundant flowers, and that is annual lifting after the flowering 
season, when the leaves begin to die off. Otherwise they are apt 
to start again and flower in the autumn, rendering the chances 
of spring-Howering doubtful. A deep, free, well-drained soil, 
copiously manured with thoroughly rotten cow-dung, or from an 
old hot-bed, is also essential, with the addition of leaf-mould 
and sand, according to the nature of the ground in question. 
