Dec] FLOWER-GARDEN. 583 
from all dampness till the time of sowing, otherwise it would be in 
danger of contracting a mouldiness, that would infallibly destroy it. 
The Anemone seed must be gathered from time to time, as it 
opens; for being very downy and light, it will otherwise be blown 
away by the first breezes of wind, or fall to the ground and be lost. 
It will be found very difficult to sow Anemone seed in a regular 
manner: it is united with, and enveloped in a downy substance, that 
upon being put together in quantity, adheres in such a manner, as 
to render it necessary to rub it between the hands for a considerable 
time, in dry sand, previous to sowing; otherwise, the young plants 
would rise in clusters and not have space enough to form their 
roots. 
When you are ready to sow your Ranunculus seed, take it out of 
the bag, and if the weather be damp, spread it thin upon a sheet of 
paper, before a moderate fire, till it is just warm, and no more; then 
rub it out and clean it perfectly from any pieces of the stalk, dried 
petals of the flower, or other extraneous matter, which if sown 
with it, would create a mouldiness of very destructive consequence. 
The last ten days of December, any time in January, or even the 
first week of February, the seeds may be sown, but when convenient, 
the early sowing is preferable. Each kind should be sown separately 
in shallow frames (of either one, two, or three lights, according to 
the quantity) provided with glasses, similar to those made use of 
for cucumbers and melons; the soil should be taken out at least 
two feet deep, and replaced with good and suitable soil, such as 
is directed in page 54 1 ; out of which the earth worms should be 
carefully picked, for these are extremely destructive to the young 
plant, which they draw from a considerable distance into their holes 
for nutriment. 
When the pit is filled, so as to reach about six inches up the 
sides and ends of the frame, it should be saffered to remain a few 
days to settle; then the surface should be made perfectly smooth 
and even, and the seed sown upon it with the utmost regularity, 
in such quantity as nearly to cover it, for accidents will befall many 
of them; the glasses should be placed on immediately, and the 
frame kept closely covered with them, for two or three days till 
the seeds begin to swell, observing to cover the glasses effectually 
at night and in severe weather to keep out the frost, and also line 
the outside of the frame all round to its full height, with tan, leaves* 
or horse-dung, for a similar purpose: a little light earth, should 
then be sifted over the seed, through a fine sieve, but not sufficient 
to cover it, this should be repeated once or twice a week till the 
greater part of the seed disappears. It is proper to remark in this 
place, that such seed as happened to be covered deeper than the 
thickness of a dollar, will never vegetate, and must of course inevi- 
tably perish. 
Mr. Millar, in his Gardener's Dictionary, recommends the 
covering of Anemone and Ranunculus seeds about a quarter of an 
inch deep; he is followed by Maw and Abercrombie, as well as 
several other writers; and although these authorities are very 
respectable, yet with me, it is very questionable, that either oi them 
