322 
THE FLORAL WOULD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
may not be able or willing to incur much expense. Get a dozen 
first-rate roots, and, placing them in different parts of the bed, fill up 
the spaces with common ones. If you are obliged yourself to select, 
you must bear in mind that roots may be true to name, and yet in 
themselves useless. 
The great difficulty to be overcome in growing the ranun- 
culus is encountered after the bloom is passed away, and the 
roots will be either good or bad the followin'* year, as they are 
then treated. On this subject very much might be said. The 
criterion by which a healthy root is known, is the plumpness of 
the forked portions, and the fine velvety texture of the crown, 
especially the latter. Tiie tuber itself may be small and shrivelled, 
and yet the crown will indicate a sound condition ; while, on the 
other hand, a plumpness of the tuber is of no service if the crown 
is dull, and instead of becoming bright when rubbed by the hand 
on the coat, crumbles away. 
Like the dahlia, the tuber of the ranunculus will be quite healthy 
in itself, even where all the young buds or eyes are destroyed. It 
may even live some time in the ground ; but vain will be the expecta- 
tion of seeing a green shoot. When the substance of the tuber is 
well filled, and the crown is glossy, success may be confidently 
expected, as far as the roots themselves are concerned. It should be 
remembered that the silkiness of the crown, although always present 
in some degree, increases as the growing season advances. The 
Turban ranunculus makes a very splendid show, and I wonder it is 
not more grown in large gardens, as beds of it, each filled with 
flowers of one colour, would have a most imposing effect. The 
various kinds of Turbans may be purchased for three or four 
shillings a hundred. As an early flower, it is worthy of notice. I 
have had yellow Turbans off bloom and ready to be removed 
by the second week in June, in time for filling the beds with other 
plants. 
The ranunculus may be. taken up without injury as soon as the 
flower is withered, if the mould be allowed to adhere to it, and all 
the roots thus removed are put into the ground in a place secured 
from rain. They will then gradually become fully matured, and 
may be cleared away in July. This latter circumstance removes 
the objection of the beds being occupied too long to allow 
their being afterwards filled with flowering plants. Half a dozen 
beds on a green plot would present a gorgeous sight in May and 
June. 
