80 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
PLANTING RANUNCULUSES. 
HE last fortnight in February and the first fortnight in 
March make the month within which the Ranunculus 
should be planted. Florists, as a class, are distinguished 
for forethought, and hence it may be assumed that not 
only the locality for this floral gem has been allotted in 
the garden, but the necessary compost prepared. The formation of 
the beds is properly the work of autumn, and the soil should not be 
disturbed at this season more than about two inches deep ; but if in 
any case this operation has been neglected, loam of tenacious, but 
not clayey, texture should be procured, and mixed with half the 
quantity of decomposed cow or horse manure; and with this the 
beds should be made up one foot in depth. The top layer, of two 
inches thickness, should be free from fresh manure. Vegetable is to 
be preferred to animal manure for this stratum, if added just previous 
to planting. The beds should be level, not rising more than an 
inch above the path, unless the soil be heavy and the subsoil cold, 
in which case a greater elevation is admissible. Three feet to three 
feet four inches will be found a convenient width. For planting 
varieties under name on a small scale, margin-boards of three- 
quarters of an inch in width, painted lead colour, and numbered 
progressively with white paint, will be found the most secure, and 
at the same time a neat arrangement, laths of any kind being more 
liable to disturbance, accidents, or loss. A scale of the bed must, 
of course, be made and registered. The making of tv:o copies will 
commend itself to the judgment of the prudent, as the loss of one, 
when the only one, has often been the source of irremediable and 
protracted annoyance to the connoisseur. Ranunculus roots (or, 
more properly tubers) may be planted in drills, one inch and a half 
in depth, drawn longitudinally in the bed for mixtures, and trans- 
versely for named varieties. The rows should be arranged to allow 
the tubers to be about five inches asunder each way, or six inches by 
five may be preferable, as an increase of width from row to row one 
way of the bed, either transversely or from end to end, will have the 
advantage of room for applying a top-dressing or water, in subse- 
quent stages of culture. The tubers should be placed rather firmly 
(claws downward) in the soil, and a knowledge of this fact has led 
to the origination of many contrivances in the shape of dibbles ; but 
drilling possesses some advantages over dibbling, as, with proper 
attention, the required firmness of compost round the roots may be 
obtained, and greater facility be afforded in a drill for placing the 
tubers correctly, and without danger of injuring or fracturing the 
claws. After depositing the tubers, rake the beds quite level ; and 
if drying winds prevail, so that the fine surface become very dry, 
a gentle pressure of the soil will be useful. Prepare a compost for 
future top-dressing. Good loam, the top-spit of a fat pasture, and 
decayed stable manure, or, if the soil be light, old cow-dung, in 
equal parts, will be suitable for the purpose. 
