RANUNCULUS. 



other flower. Accordingly hii catalogue, he fays, boafts 

 nearly eight hundred, all with their proper names : ranged 

 under the heads of — dark and dark purple ; light pur- 

 ple and grey, &c. ; crimfon, &c.; reds, &c. ; rofy, &c. ; 

 orange, &c. ; yellow and yellow fpotted, &c. ; white 

 and white fpotted, &c. ; olive, &c. ; purple and cofFee- 

 ilriped, &c. ; red and yellow-ilriped ; red >ind white 

 ftriped. 



And according to -the above flower gardener a fine ra- 

 nunculus (liould have a ftrung rt.raight ftein from eight to 

 twelve inches high. The flower {hould be of an hemi- 

 fpherical form, at Icaft two inches in diameter, confifl;ing of 

 numerous petals gradually diminifliing in fize to the centre, 

 lying over each other, fo as neither to be too clofe nor too 

 much feparated, but having more of a perpendicular than 

 horizontal direction, in order to difplay the colours with 

 better effedl. The petals (liould be broad, with entire 

 well-rounded edges ; their colours dark, clear, rich or bril- 

 liant, either of one colour or varioufiy diverfified, on an 

 afh, white, fulphur or fire-coloured ground, or elfe regu- 

 larly ftriped, tpotted or mottled, in an elegant manner. 



In the fecond fpecies there is a variety with double 

 flowers, whicli has been obtained by feeds, and is preferved 

 in many curious gardens for the beauty of its flowers. It 

 is by fome gardeners called the Fair Maid of France. The 

 root is perennial, and compofed of many ilrong fibres : the 

 leaves are divided into fine lanceolate lobes : the four fide- 

 lobes are upon footltalks coming from the fide of the principal 

 ilalk, and the middle one terminates it ; they are deeply fer- 

 rate, and have feveral longitudinal veins. The ft;alks rife a foot 

 and half high, and branch out at the top into three or four 

 divifions, at each of which there is one leaf, of the fame 

 fhape with the lower, but fmaller. The flowers are pnre 

 white, and very double, each (landing upon a (hort foot- 

 ftalk. The.flowers come forth in May. 



In the third fort there is alfo a variety with double 

 flowers, which is the fort mod generally cultivated in the 

 garden. It is frequently among other herbaceous peren- 

 nials, under the name of Yellow Bachelor's Buttons. 



And in the fourth fpecies there is a variety with double 

 flowers, which is the fort cultivated in the gardens for its or- 

 namental effects. 



Method of Culture. — The firfl; fort and different varieties may 

 be readily increafed by the off-fets taken from the root, and 

 new varieties may be raifed from feed. In the firft of thefe 

 methods the ofF-fets fhould be feparated from the roots 

 in dry weather, in the latter end of fummer, when the 

 flowering is over, and the ftems and leaves are declining, 

 being placed in bags or boxes, in a dry place, till the au- 

 tumn, when they (hould be planted out in rows fix or 

 eight inches apart, and fix of them to each, in feparate 

 beds, prepared with light fandy earthy comport, to the 

 depth of two or three feet ; taking care to protect them 

 carefully from the frolt during the winter. When the 

 buds begin to break through the ground they (hould be 

 kept perfeftly clear from weeds, protefting them from 

 frolts ; and when they have flowered and the ftems are de- 

 c.iyed, the root fhould be taken up ; cleared from dirt, and 

 placed in bags or boxes till the autumn, when they mufl; be 

 planted again. 



But in the fecond mode, the feed fliould be coUeftcd from 

 the beft plants of the femi-double kinds, and be fown in flat 

 pans or boxes, filled with light rich earth, in Auguft, cover- 

 ing it in about a quarter of an inch thick with the fame fort of 

 earth, placing them in a fliady fituation, fo as to have a lit- 

 tle of the morning fun. The pots (hould remain here till 

 the beginning of OAober, when the plants fometimes appear, 



though it is often later before this happens, when they (hould 

 have a more open expofure with the full fun ; but when 

 froft is apprehended, they fliould be removed under a com- 

 mon hot-bed frame, being only covered in the nights and bad 

 weather with the glafles, guarding them well againll rains 

 and froil. In the fpring loUowing they (liould be expofed 

 to the open air, being very flightly refre[hed with water, 

 having a fituation to enjoy the morning fun ; and when their 

 leaves and items begin to decay, the roots may be taken up, 

 dried in a proper place, and then put up in bags to be 

 planted out in the fame manner a; the old roots in Oc- 

 tober. 



In the following fummer they will produce flowers ; when 

 fuch as are good (hould be marked, and the others removed 

 from them. The plants intended to flower (hould not be fuf- 

 feredto run to feed, as roots which have produced feeds feldom 

 furnifh fine flowers afterwards. The difappointments expe- 

 rienced in purchafing thefe roots, chiefly depend upon this 

 circumltance. 



It may be noticed that the roots intended for the borders 

 (hould be planted towards the fpring in little clumps or 

 patciies, three, four, or five roots in each, putting them in 

 either with a dibble or trowel, about two inches deep, and 

 three or four afi'.nder in each patch, and the patches from 

 about three to five or ten feet diftance, placing them in a 

 varied manner in the borders. 



And in regard to their general culture after planting, 

 fuch of the forward autumnal-planted roots of the choice 

 forts in beds as have (hot above ground, (hould in winter, 

 where convenient, have occafional (helter from hard frofts, 

 by mats fupportcd on low hoop arches ; or in very fevere 

 weather be covered clofe with dry long litter, removing all 

 covering in open weather : and in the fpring, when the 

 flower-buds begin firft to advance, (helter them in frofty 

 nights with fupported mats, fuflering them, however, to 

 be open to the full air every day ; but the latter plantings, 

 that do not come up in winter, or very early in fpring, 

 wliilll frofty nights prevail, will not require any protection, 

 and all thofe diilributed in patches about the borders muft 

 alfo take their chance in all weathers : thofe of the different 

 feafons of planting will fucceed one another in flowering 

 from the beginning of April until the middle of June, 

 though the May blow generally (hews to the greateft per- 

 fection. After the blow is part, and the leaves and ftalks 

 withered, the roots (hould be taken up and dried in the 

 (hade, then cleared from all off-fets and adhering mould, 

 putting them up in bags or boxes till next planting feafon, 

 when they muft be planted again, as directed above. 



But in each feafon of planting, it is highly necelTary, in 

 the principal fine varieties, to put them either in entire new 

 beds, or the old ones refrefhed with fome fre(h rich earth or 

 compoft, working the old and new well together, in order 

 to invigorate the growth of the plants. 



All the other fpecies are capable of being eafily raifed by 

 the roots, which (hould be flipped or parted in autumn when 

 paft flowering, or in the fpring before they begin to (hoot, 

 and the flips be either planted at once, where they are to re- 

 main, or in nurfery-rows for a feafon, then planted out 

 finally. They fucceed in any common foil and fituation, and 

 may be difperfed about the different flower-borders and 

 clumps, where they conftantly remain, only trimming them 

 occafionally ; and once in a year or two, or when they have 

 increafed into large bunches, taking them up in autumn or 

 fpring, to divide them for further increafe, replanting them 

 again directly. 



In faving feed for raifing new varieties, it muft be fuf- 

 fered to continue on the plant till it becomes brown and 



dry. 



