178 
THE RANUNCULUS". 
devolve upon the grower each month, after 
reading the instructions which precede these, 
there will be little difficulty in growing this 
most beautiful flower, and we think many of 
those who have abandoned them will resume 
their cultivation. 
VARIETIES. 
The following selection may be taken as 
comprising some of the best varieties of Ra- 
nunculuses we have : — 
Rose, Edged, Spotted and Mottled. — Annot 
Lyle, Zebina, Chimpanzee, Grace Darling, 
Lady Sale, Mrs. Glenny, Lictor, Nina, Nurna, 
Prince of Wales, Splendour, and Zobeide. 
Darh, Edged and Mottled, — Dr. Horner. 
Duke of Sussex, General Robertson, James 
Dickson, Lame, Major Laing, Nydia, Otway, 
Richard Dixon, Sir John Graham, Sir Philip 
Broke, and Talisman. 
Yellow, Edged and Mottled. — Balloon, Cha- 
rybdis, Colonel Dennie, Commodore Napier, 
Constantia, Cowley, Dr. Darwin, Prince Albeit, 
Prince Eugene, Princess Royal, Richard Headly, 
and Waller. 
The following are twelve of the best seed- 
ling Ranunculuses, produced by Messrs. Tyso 
and Son : — 
Alexis, yellow spotted; Attractor, white 
edged ; Creon, buff edged ; Delectus, yellow 
edged ; Dr. Horner, yellow edged ; Edgar, yel- 
low edged; Felix, buff spotted; Herbert, 
yellow crimson edged ; Innocent, white spot- 
ted ; Nicander, white spotted ; Yendome, cream 
purple edged ; Victor, dark. 
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 
Water and Watering. — Rain water is best 
for all plants. Where, however, rain water 
cannot be provided, water from a pond or 
brook should be used, in preference to well- 
water : and of this, the softer is the better, 
generally. If neither rain water, nor soft 
water, nor the water of rivers or brooks can 
be secured, and hard well-water is necessarily 
used, it should be exposed during a whole day 
in a broad flat vessel to the sun and air ; this 
aeration is of great benefit. The watering of 
Ranunculuses is of mo^t importance just at the 
time the flower buds appear, for if at that time 
the weather be dry and parching, and no water 
is applied, the flower-stems will often prove 
abortive. Let the operation be attended to 
■when the sun does not strike fiercely en the 
plants. To water in showery weather may 
seem anomalous, nevertheless, in a period of 
drought, if a slight passing shower occurs, that 
is the time to give a thorough watering, as 
the air is then in a fitter state to render the 
operation beneficial to the plants. 
Protecting from sudden Spring Frosts. — 
It sometimes happens that in early spring 
unexpected morning frosts of some severity 
are experienced ; and if the season is some- 
what advanced, so that the sun has con- 
siderable power, and it bursts suddenly, as it 
were, on the frozen plants, much damage is 
soon done. This is supposed to be at that 
season when regular covering is not at all 
required. Under these circumstances, if the 
plants are found to be frozen, at once cover 
the beds with some shading material, to keep 
off the sun, and retain it till the plants 
and soil are both thoroughly thawed : it is 
quite immaterial what covering is employed, 
so that it keeps off the sun, and does not touch 
the plants. When they are quite thawed, 
admit the light gradually by first lifting up 
the covering slightly on the shady side, and gra- 
dually opening them till they become again fully 
exposed. This must be commenced earh - , 
before the sun reaches the plants. 
Selecting Soil. — Though a loamy soil has 
been said to be proper for the Ranunculus, 
yet as loams may vary in quality, many may 
find it difficult to understand the precise kind 
of loam which is most proper for these plants. 
To such it may be useful to remark, that 
the soil, when taken from a pasture where the 
British Ranunculuses or Crowfoots abound and 
grow freely, has been found to be congenial to 
the growth of the garden varieties. 
Longevity. — Messrs. Tyso, who are much 
experienced in the growth of Ranunculuses, 
state that the same variety may be propagated 
and perpetuated for about a century. Many 
of the varieties, which were highly esteemed 
half a century ago, are fast declining in energy, 
and now bloom less frequently and less 
vigorously. The culture of such, therefore, 
becomes abandoned for seedlings of equal or 
better qualities, and more vigorous constitu- 
tion. They state that the individual roots 
retain their vitality for two years, if they are 
properly preserved. 
Pot-culture. — Those who are so fond of 
these flowers as to wish to have them remov- 
able to their windows or greenhouses, when in 
bloom, may secure this by planting them in 
pots; but it is not the roots intended to produce 
blooms for exhibition that must be thus 
treated. Strong roots of the vigorous growing 
varieties, if planted three or so in a six or 
seven inch pot, in good free loamy soil, will 
produce tolerably good blossoms. For early 
blooms, plant in October, and plunge the pots 
just beneath the rim in coal ashes, in a cold 
frame for the winter. To succeed them, 
plant others in February, and plunge the pots 
in a warm border. Just before the period of 
blossoming, or after the flowers are considera- 
bly advanced, the pots may be lifted, cleaned, 
and removed to a convenient place, where they 
will be sheltered from excessive sun heat. 
