THE RANUNCULUS. 
177 
The spring planted ones will also be past their 
bloom at the beginning of the month, and may 
be allowed to have all the weather, and to be 
watered if it prove very dry before they have 
done growing; but if it be a wet season, let 
them be protected from the rain, lest the tubers 
should start again into growth. Still keep 
them clear of weeds, which will in a few days 
choke them when neglected. When they have 
died down, that is, the foliage turned yellow, they 
may be also taken up and dried with the mould 
upon them, and without cutting off the stems 
and foliage; and when thoroughly dried, they 
may be cleaned, and the stems cut down to 
about half an inch in length, which may be 
left on ; they may then be put in their boxes 
and bags, and laid by, where they will keep 
dry and have plenty of air. 
August. — The beds may be prepared for 
the autumn planting, and the soil thrown out 
on each side the bed, for the purpose of stirring 
and mixing it, picking out the wire-worm and 
grub, if there be such, and preparing it for the 
next occasion. All the tubers in store should 
be examined, to see there is no mouldiness or 
mildew about them; and if there be, they 
should be brushed so as to remove it, and be 
placed where they will be free from damp, for 
the mildew very soon destroys the buds if not 
removed. 
September. — Examine the tubers again 
from time to time, and arrange for the autumn 
planted beds : these are generally confined to 
the sorts of which plenty may be possessed, 
because, as we have already explained, they 
would be tried a good deal by a hard winter, 
especially the more tender and scarce ones : 
on this account it is not advisable to plant 
scarce sorts in autumn, but confine the beds 
to those which are more hardy, and of which 
there is a superabundance. Turn over the 
soil several times, and return it to the beds 
as directed, previous to the planting of next 
month. 
October. — Plant for the autumn beds, ac- 
cording to the directions given in the general 
culture, and be prepared to cover up against 
hard frosts with litter of some kind, or with 
hoops and mats, not that it need be near the 
bed at first ; but if the weather be mild and 
wet, they will soon swell, and frost at that time 
would do mischief ; therefore, be prepared, so 
that at short notice the beds may be covered 
up against it. 
November.— Continue to provide against 
frost for those which are planted, and occa- 
sionally examine the tubers in store, especially 
the one year old seedling tubers, which are 
very small, and consequently easily damaged 
by damp, and shrivelled up by too much heat, 
for they have but little substance ; and if they 
appear to shrivel, it is better to plant them at 
48. 
once, and be careful of protecting them, than 
to leave them till the spring; for when they 
once begin to shrivel they soon lose their 
vegetating powers. However, if not taken up 
till the foliage has decayed, and when taken 
up stored where the place is cool and dry, 
there is no danger of this. It will be neces- 
sary now to have the litter or mats, or what- 
ever else is to be used for the protection 
against frost, close to the beds, so that it may 
be put on every night, because there is no 
certainty. Even in these months the weeds 
will require attention, as many will grow 
strong in a mild autumn. 
December. — The beds must now be pre- 
pared for the spring planting. Throw out the 
soil into ridges, if not done before, and while 
out it should be turned, examined, and cleared 
of wire-worm, grub, and the like pests, by 
picking them out. We have already been so 
explicit as to the soil and compost which they 
should be grown in, that anything here would 
be mere repetition. The objects of repeated 
turning during the winter months, and up to 
the time of planting in February, are first to 
sweeten the soil by the admission of air to 
every part, to clear it of vermin, which are 
the less likely to escape in proportion to the 
number of examinations; and lastly, to benefit, 
by exposing as much of it as possible to the 
influence of whatever frost there may he. 
The autumn planted beds must be covered 
against frost, and this should be done every 
night, because there is no dependence on the 
mildness of an evening lasting till the morning, 
and one severe night might do a good deal of 
mischief. Look well to the tubers that are in 
their boxes and bags ; indeed, this is a sort 
of constant duty, for they should never be 
neglected long together, in case of an attack of 
damp or mildew, for the progress of these 
visitants is very rapid. If there is any con- 
siderable number of very small offsets, and 
they are at all drying or shrivelling, it may be 
desirable to get them into the ground, lest they 
should dry too much ; but if this be done, the 
bed must be more carefully protected against 
frost than even the beds already growing, 
because the tubers are the most tender after 
they have begun to swell, and while the first 
fibres are pushing. However, in most cases, 
the safest of all seasons for the planting is 
February, for the tender sorts intended for 
exhibition ; and the autumn planting gives an 
earlier bloom for the ornamental features of 
the garden ; indeed, if it were only for the 
advantage of two distinct periods of bloom, an 
autumn bed is desirable ; besides, if the autumn 
bed be properly protected, the increase is ge- 
nerally greater and the roots come finer ; yet 
it would be wrong to risk any valuable ones. 
With these hints as to the duties which 
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