166 The Ranunculus, or Crowfoot. 



weather proves dry, and the crowns of the roots are exposed 

 they will suffer material injury. In dry weather, they require 

 watering, and this must be continued, if necessary, until thev 

 are in full bloom. 



In situations where the sun has great power, they should be 

 shaded, or the leaves will become yellow, and few flower 

 will be produced. They should also be shaded while hi 

 flower, or they will soon fade. This shading may be effected 

 either with an awning, or by bending hoops across the bed, and 

 covering them with mats, always taking care to allow a cur- 

 rent of air to pass underneath. As soon as they have done 

 flowering, and the leaves have died away, take up the roots 

 clean them, dry them on a tray or in an airy chamber, not ex- 

 posed to the sun, and when dry, place them in a drawer till 

 the season for planting again arrives. If protected from frost 

 or damp, the roots will keep for two years. They will flower 

 at various seasons, according to the time of planting. Those 

 set out in April, will flower in July, and those planted in May 

 and June, will flower in August and September. 



The Ranunculus also flowers well in pots in the green-house 

 or room window. In August, fill some flower pots with rich 

 sandy loam, nearly even with the rim ; give each pot a rap 

 on the bottom, to settle the soil, but do not press it down ; level 

 the surface, and lay on it a little sand ; then select the roots, 

 and place them in a circle around the pot, about three or four 

 inches apart, and put one in the middle ; press them gently 

 down with the hand, and lay a little more sand over them, 

 filling the pot level with the rim with soil, and give them a 

 gentle watering ; then place the pots in a sheltered situation, 

 until the appearance of frost, after which remove them to the 

 green-house or room window. Supply the plants with water 

 as they require it, and they will soon flower. Other plantings 

 may be made monthly, during the winter, which will flower in 

 succession. Roots that have been kept out of the ground one 

 year, will be best for this purpose, as they will grow much 

 quicker than those which were taken up the last season. The 

 Ranunculus is increased by separating the offsets from the 

 root, and by seeds from new varieties. 



A very neat, smooth species, R. abortivtts, not uncommon in 



