THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
049 
towards or from the root, all ambiguity or mistakes will be avoided. 
Although the genial days we sometimes have in February allow the 
operations of sowing and planting to be carried on with advantage, 
it often happens that severe and continued fro As set in after the 
Ranunculus bed is completed, and the hopes of the florist are com- 
mitted to it. This probable evil must be guarded against; for 
.although the root must sustain a hard frost when it is really rooted, 
it is very sensitive when that is not the case. If a frost should 
come, a mat laid upon the bed will avert injurious consequences, or 
two may be used if the weather is severe. If, in the daytime, the 
sun lias power to unbind the soil, the mats may be taken off, and 
the warm rays admitted ; but be sure the mats are replaced at 
night. If the weather is suspicious, about three weeks will be 
sufficient for bringing the young shoots to the surface, when further 
care as to cold will be unnecessary. An operation must then be 
attended to of the utmost importance, both to the future bloom and 
the increase of the tuber. When the leaves are about half-an-inch 
above the ground, the soil must be firmly pressed round them, so 
us to fix the tuber firm in the ground. This may be done twice 
with advantage as the growth proceeds. Lightness of the soil has 
been very often fatal to the Ranunculus, and must therefore be 
guarded against in the manner just described. The operations 
which have been mentioned in this paper are rather laborious, from 
■the long continuance of the stooping posture, and they will probably 
discourage those who are not thoroughly imbued with a love of 
flowers. But the resolute amateur will remember that no good 
results are ever secured without toil, and he will be cheered in his 
labours by the brilliant prospects before him. 
PLANTING PEAR TREES. 
N a deep light soil composed of alluvial layers, or in soils 
that are stony, schistose, calcareous mixed with humus, 
marly, or marly clay, and when the Bubsoil does not 
retain stagnant water during a great part of the winter, 
the Pear tree on the Pear stock may be successfully 
planted. If the plantation can be made in such kinds of soil, and 
in situations, inclined to the east, south, or west, on the side of a 
hill or slope, so much the better. The more light, stony, or 
calcareous the soil, the less a slopiug situation is necessary ; but 
the more compact, strong, or schistose the soil on the sides of the 
hills, the better the Pear tree grows and bears. It is only necessary 
for nn attentive observer to travel in the months of August and 
September, through a country where the pear is generally cultivated, 
and he will find the above remarks strictly correct. If perfect 
success is aimed at, we ought never to plant pear trees in ground 
previously occupied by fruit trees, and which have perished from old 
age or decrepitude. When an old plantation of fruit trees is to be 
renewed, it is necessary to remove all the old roots, trench the 
Kove. Tiber. 
