

The Ranunculus. 181 



duces two flowers alike, or one similar to the parent plant, so 

 that the diversity of them may be carried to an amazing extent. 

 The finest and most approved sorts are propagated by dividing 

 the tubes, or by offsets from them ; a means of proceeding which 

 will make them retain all their original character for more than 

 twenty years. The most hardy of the garden species, even the 

 African — R. Sanguineus, which makes a brilliant appearance 

 by its vivid scarlet color, are but little esteemed in comparison 

 with the Asiatic. The African differs from it in having fewer but 

 larger leaves, which are of a darker green than those of the lat- 

 ter kind. The stem seldom produces more than one flower and 

 never exceeds two ; but these are considerably larger than those 

 of the Persian, and very double, and a stem is frequently thrown 

 up from the centre of the flower, bearing a second corolla of a 

 smaller size. There are several varieties of this one kind, of the 

 color of the jonquil, another of the hue of the golden marigold, 

 with a green heart ; but the variety most esteemed is of a fine 

 red color, spotted with yellow, called the Golden Turban. As 

 these kinds are less susceptible of frost than the Persian, 

 the roots are generally left in the earth throughout the year; 

 but this is a bad practice, as, when the soil or season is wet, they 

 are sure to return to their natural red color, by which means the 

 most beautiful varieties are frequently lost. This has not what 

 is generally termed either a palmated or tuberous root, but con- 

 sists of fibres. When the plant begins to vegetate, there grow 

 out of the part which surrounds the eye many thin white threads, 

 that are of equal dimensions all their length, till they have fin- 

 ished their growth; they then swell out at the part adhering to 

 the trunk, and form one or more claws adhering to the old one, 

 which after having furnished the new ones with the nutritive 

 juices they contained, or enabled them to procure strength, the old 

 tubers are decomposed, and consequently vegetate but one year, 

 after the manner of many bulbs, or in a similar way to the buds 

 of trees, which throw out branches that form other buds whilst 

 the original is no more. Our species varies more in its color 

 than even the tulip, running from a black doWn to white, through 

 all the shades of reds, yellows, and browns ; and indeed all colors, 

 excepting blue, may be found in these gaily painted flowers — the 

 criterion of whose perfection is, that they should produce a strong 

 stem not less than from eight inches to a foot, and that they 



