May.] flower GARDEN. 395 
inches high, supporting a large well-formed flower, at least two 
inches in diameter, consisting of numerous petals, the largest at the 
outside, and gradually diminishing in size as they approach the 
centre, which should be well filled up. 
The blossom should be of a hemispherical form, and its compo- 
nent petals imbricated in such a manner as neither to be too close 
and compact nor too widely separated, but have rather more of a 
perpendicular than of a horizontal direction, to display its colours 
with better effect. 
The petals should be broad, and have perfectly entire well round- 
ed edges; their colours should be dark, clear, rich, or brilliant, 
either consisting of one colour throughout, or be otherwise variously 
diversified on an ash, white, sulphur, or fire colour ground, or re- 
gularly striped, spotted, or mottled, in an elegant manner. 
There are more numerous varieties of beautiful double ranun- 
culuses than of any other flower. 
Anemones. 
Gentle and moderate waterings will be necessary for anemones, 
during their period of flowering, as well as for ranunculuses; the 
blossoms and petals of the former are of a more soft and flexible 
texture than those of the latter, and are consequently more liable 
to receive injury from high winds and heavy rains; their colours 
soon fade when exposed to a strong sun; it is, therefore, equally 
necessary to shade and shelter them whilst in bloom, in order to 
prolong the extreme beauty of their flowers. 
Anemones continue longer after bloom in a state of vegetation 
than ranunculuses, probably because of their greater degree of suc- 
culency; and even at the proper time to take them up, it will some- 
times happen, that part of their foliage will not be entirely divested 
of greenness and moisture; when it thus happens, which it does 
more frequently in rainy or wet seasons, much skill is necessary to 
ascertain the critical period to take up the roots; for if they are 
suffered to remain too long, especially if the season be moist, they 
will shoot afresh, and be thereby materially weakened and injuredj 
it is indeed better to take them up too early, than suffer them to 
vegetate in this manner, but the roots will not be so firm and solid 
as if done at the exact time. The safest and most effectual method 
to preserve them from these disagreeable consequences, is to keep 
off all heavy rains after the bloom is quite over, by means of mats 
and hoops, but on no account suffer the ground to become too dry; 
the roots will then regularly and gradually mature, and the foliage 
in due time will become brown and dry, whicli will point out the 
true time to take up the roots, and this will usually happen to be 
about a month after bloom. 
For their subsequent treatment, see the Flower Garden for next 
month. 
A Description of the Properties of a fine Double Anemone. 
The stem should be strong, elastic, and erect, not less than nine 
or ten inches high. 
