G/mDEN RANUNCULUS. 117 



the action of the spade, to resist the entrance of 

 air, which appears to be less necessary to the roots. 



Before and when coming* into bloom, the 

 surface of the bed should be kept pretty solid and 

 moist by mulching; and occasional watering with 

 manured water. Shading will preserve and 

 prolong' the beauty of the flowers ; and all 

 subsequent treatment to be observed as directed 

 for the anemone. 



Ranunculus tubers have been already de- 

 scribed. They increase themselves by viviparous 

 progeny ; but the connecting runner between 

 the old and young plants is usually so short, that 

 they appear as one and inseparable. This, how- 

 ever, is not the case : if the runner be cut by 

 the point of a knife, neither the old nor young 

 one will be damaged ; and, by such means, the 

 kind may be multiplied without end. 



The properties of a Jine double rammculus. — 

 " The stem should be strong, straight, and from 

 eight to twelve inches high, supporting a large, 

 well-formed blossom, at least two inches in dia- 



