1883.] 



THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 



207 



ANEMONES AND RANUNCULUS. 



These plants, though so seldom grown suc- 

 cessfully in this country, are well worth the 

 attention which their culture requires. 

 There are many species, inhabitants of our 

 gardens, woods, and fields; but those to 

 which our present article especially applies 



DOUBLE FRENCH ANEMONE. 



are the tuberous Ranunculus Asiatieus and 

 Anemone coronaria, and hortensis, from which 

 species the many varieties catalogued by 

 bulb growers, and which are often included 

 in collections of Dutch bulbs, are derived. 

 The tubers of the Anemone are dark, flatfish, 

 ill-shapen ; those of the Ranunculus are a 

 number of little prongs united at a common 

 crown. 



Any common, light, good soil is suitable 

 for the Anemone, a wet, stiff soil rots the 

 roots. The Ranunculus, however, likes a 

 stiffer soil and is very impatient of drought, 

 although if planted in a common bulb bed 

 the roots sometimes grow and give flowers ; 

 yet these plants cannot be considered hardy, 

 and to grow them satisfactorily a special 

 bed must be made for them and requisite 

 protection given. If the natural soil is not 

 rich loam, it should be removed to the depth 

 of at least eighteen inches. Fill in with 

 rich, light soil at least six inches; rotted 

 sod from some old pasture is the best ; then 

 fill up the bed with a mixture of the same 

 soil and well decomposed cow droppings. 

 Then raise the bed about four inches with 

 fine light, rich soil. G-ood drainage is essen- 

 tial. In this bed plant the tubers from four 

 to six inches apart, according to their size, 

 and about two inches deep, pressing the soil 

 around them, in October or early November. 



When the ground begins to freeze, cover 

 the bed with a thick coat of leaves or of 

 strawy manure, so as to thoroughly keep out 

 the frost. It is better, however, to make a 

 rough frame, fill in with leaves and cover 

 with boards or glass. The only objection is 

 that field . mice sometimes make such a 

 frame their winter quarters and destroy the 



tubers ; they must either be kept out or 

 poisoned. 



Early in spring remove the frame or un- 

 cover the bed, and the plants will soon ap- 

 pear. Push the earth loosely around them 

 and water freely if there should be a season 



! of drought. The plants will soon show bloom 



1 and should then be protected from the sun 

 (which fades the rich colors) by an awning. 



When the flowers have faded and the foli- 

 age turns yellow, take up the tubers and 

 keep them in a cool place until the return 

 of the planting season. The roots may be 

 kept over winter and planted in the spring, 

 as they possess great vitality ; but autumn 



, planting is preferable. If planted in pots 

 they can be kept in a frame and brought into 

 bloom during the winter, but this culture is 



j not as satisfactory. 



The species and varieties are single and 



j double ; the colors are very rich white, 

 scarlet, yellow, blue, black, spotted, — in fact, 

 there is hardly any shade which cannot be 

 found. A bed of these flowers will give 

 more satisfaction than one can suppose, for 

 no words can give an idea of the beauty and 

 brilliancy of the blossoms. The culture is 

 not difficult, and the wonder is that we so 

 seldom see Anemones and Ranunculus. 



E. S. Rand, Jr. 



WINTER TREATMENT OE ROSES. 



In the latitude of New-York City, Roses 

 should not be covered, or given their winter 

 protection before the first week in December. 

 In this respect the amateur often errs. In 

 I his anxiety to protect his pet plants, he very 

 j often covers them too soon, and if the season 

 I is mild the shoots are smothered, and in 

 consequence decay. In the spring the same 

 error occurs again ; he uncovers them early 

 in March, when he should not do so before 

 the first week in April. 



In regard to protecting Roses, it is rather j 



DOUBLE CHRYSANTHEMUM-FLOWERED 

 ANEMONE. 



difficult to give precise directions as to the 

 amount of covering to be applied, as so 

 much depends upon the location and situa- 

 tion of the plants, their health, and condi- 

 tion. I do not advise early covering, for I 

 think that a moderate freezing has a tend- 



ency to help the plant to fully mature its 

 wood, thus rendering it more capable of sur- 

 viving the winter. 



For protecting the Hybrid Perpetuals 

 (which, by the way, are the hardiest class 

 of Roses), I know of nothing better than the 

 branches of cedar or other evergreens, 

 placed rather thickly over the entire bed. 



The Everblooming Roses, Teas, Bourbons, 



DOUBLE FRENCH RANUNCULUS. 



Bengals, are unfortunately more tender, and 

 in consequence require more protection. For 

 this class I find it an excellent plan to cover 

 over the entire bed to the depth of six or eight 

 inches with forest leaves. The leaves can 

 be kept in place by placing evergreen or 

 other branches over them. I prefer ever- 

 green branches, when they can be obtained, 

 as they make the place more bright and cheer- 

 ful looking, during our dreary winter months. 



For protecting Roses, some use rough 

 stable manure, but I do not advise its use ; 

 it often ferments, and thus destroys the 

 plants ; besides, it retains so much water 

 that it packs heavily, thus inducing rot and 

 decay. Standard and large specimens of 

 Roses can be protected by covering them 

 with straw, tying it neatly around, and leav- 

 ing a slight opening at the top. Evergreen 

 branches may also be used for this pur- 

 pose, and are in some respects preferable to 

 straw. Chas. E. Parnell. 



A NEW METHOD OF COLORING FLOWERS. 



A Mr. Nesbit, of England, is said to have 

 discovered a -process by which cut flowers 

 can be colored by the absorption of dyes 

 through the stems. A bouquet of Lilies 

 tinted in this manner with delicate pink and 

 blue was carried by the Prince of Wales at a 

 recent social entertainment, where it at- 

 tracted considerable attention. It is said 

 that the dies do not in the least affect the 

 perfume or freshness of the flowers ; but not 

 all the flowers respond equally to this 

 treatment, and some of the compound colors 

 become separated by the process ; purple 

 especially divides into its compound colors. 



