The Ranunculus. 183 



to take the roots out of the earth, doing it so as not to break off 

 the tubers. The stems should next be cut close off, and their 

 claws well cleansed and separated after they become dry and 

 brittle. A sieve, worked in water, is sometimes useful in doing 

 this. They should then be dried in a shaded place, and after- 

 wards tied in bags which hang suspended in a dry room. The 

 offsets attain perfection in the season of their formation ; but 

 where there are few, and it is desirable to increase the number, 

 the tubers may be carefully divided with a sharp knife ; for on 

 closely examining the crown of these roots, several small protu- 

 berances will be found, from each of which a shoot will arise. 

 Seed for raising these plants should be procured from semi- 

 double flowers, that grow on strong tall stems, where the petals 

 are of a clear and rich color. It should remain on the plant till 

 it has lost its verdure, and become dry and brown. The heads 

 are then to be cut off and dried, and put in a warm dry place 

 until they are wanted for sowing, when they should be put on a 

 tea-tray and placed before the fire .till they are just warm, and 

 the seeds can be carefully scraped off with a small knife. When 

 done properly, they will have the appearance of clean coarse 

 bran, with a spot in the centre of each cuticle, which is the ker- 

 nel. When the seed is thus prepared, it should be sown in a 

 shallow frame provided with sashes ; the soil should be previously 

 taken out three feet, deep, and spread thin upon the ground till it 

 has been perfectly frozen throughout, in order to destroy vermin ; 

 filled again with the frozen earth, it should remain till all has 

 thawed and subsided to its old bulk ; on its smooth surface the 

 seeds should be sown so as to cover it, and tight glasses placed 

 over the whole till the seed begins to swell, and a little earth sifted 

 over the whole gradually once or twice a week, till the seed dis- 

 appears, taking care to remember that the thickness of a twenty- 

 five cent piece will entirely prevent their vegetation. It is well to 

 carefully break the earth around the plants as they first sprout 

 up. Under a hot sun, it is necessary to admit fresh air, and 

 sometimes also the summer shower. This attention is requisite 

 till the foliage is dry and brown. The roots are then to be taken 

 up, as already advised ; those with two or three claws will blow 

 the following summer. 



Neither the Persian nor African Ranunculus was known to the 

 Romans at the time of Plihy, who has described four species 



