March.] FLOWER GARDEN. 295 
to them. But this care or attention is not necessary for the com- 
mon kinds, growing promiscuously in the borders, &c. 
Ranunculuses and Anemones. 
Continue to protect your choice kinds of early planted ranuncu- 
luses and anemones as direct in page 160, they will now require 
particular attention, as the rudiments of their flowers will be ad- 
vancing, which would suffer greatly if too much exposed to nipping 
frosts. 
Finish planting the ranunculuses and anemones that are yet 
kept out of ground for a successional bloom, which is to be done 
agreeably to the directions given in October. 
Ranunculus roots will remain in the ground several days after 
planting, before they begin to vegetatej during this period they 
become very much swollen by imbibing the moisture of the soil, 
and are in this state extremely susceptible of injury from frost, 
much more so than when vegetation has actually taken place. 
As soon as the bed is planted, if hard frosts are likely to ensue, 
a sufficient quantity of dry straw should be placed near it, ready 
for covering when necessity requires, which should be kept on 
only during severe frosts, or such as would be likely to penetrate 
to the roots, as the effects of covering too long or too much, would 
be as destructive as the reverse, by causing the roots to become 
mouldy, than which nothing can be more prejudicial. 
Anemones are somewhat hardier than ranunculuses, and there- 
fore do not require so particular care, but if such is afforded them, 
it will cause them to blow in greater perfection. 
Planting Bulbs of various kinds. 
As early in this month as possible, finish planting all your hardy 
kinds of bulbous roots, such as hyacinths, tulips, polyanthus-nar- 
cissus, jonquils, star of Bethlehem, &c. &c., as they must be con- 
siderably weakened by being kept too long unplanted, observe the 
directions given in pages 80 and 81, under the article tulips. 
Auriculas. 
The first favourable weather that occurs in this month, divest the 
auricula plants of their exterior decayed leaves, and by the middle 
of the month, the operation of earthing up, as it is termed, should 
commence; that is to say, the surface earth of the pot should be 
taken away about one inch deep, and fresh compost, with the ad- 
dition of a little loam, should be substituted in its stead: this will 
contribute greatly to the strength of the plants and the vigour of 
their bloom; at the same time it will afford a favourable oppor- 
tunity to separate such offsets as shall appear possessed of a suffi- 
ciency of fibres to be taken off at this early season: these offsets 
when properly planted in small pots, should be placed in a frame, 
in some warm sheltered situation, till their roots are established. 
