201 
a moist soil, and if there be a deficiency of rain in May, water 
must be plentifully supplied, just at the time the flower buds 
are appearing. This is a critical point of time, and for lack of 
moisture many plants fail to bloom, and send up only an abor- 
tive flower stem. Water from a pond or brook is better than 
from a well; it should be applied morning or evening, between 
the rows, from a tube pot, and not over the foliage, except in 
cloudy and showery weather. It may appear an anomalous 
direction to water in wet weather, but advantage should be 
taken of a shower falling to give a copious watering, as the 
plants are then naturally in a better state to receive moisture 
than in dry weather, when their pores are contracted. 
Shading. To obtain perfect blooms, a shade of hurdles, 
netting, or white calico should be used, when the blooms begin 
to expand. It should be so placed as to admit of abundance 
of air, and be removed in cloudy weather, and at night. This 
will not only prolong the period of flowering, but increase the 
.size of the blooms, and preserve the colours of the darker sorts : 
those with light grounds will, much better, sustain the sun’s 
rays. Many sorts will produce more flower buds than should 
be permitted to mature, they should, therefore, be pinched off 
when young, leaving two or three to each root. 
Taking dp. The roots may be lifted as soon as the foliage 
turns yellow, or if the weather be dry, they may remain till it 
becomes brown. The Ranunculus is apt to vegetate again im- 
mediately after it is brought to a state of rest, care is therefore 
required when the weather is moist at this season, to select and 
take up the sorts as they ripen, and not to wait until the 
whole are fit. Spread the roots thin, in an airy cool place, 
that they may dry gradually, and keep them in bags or boxes, 
till the planting season. 
Properties of a fine Ranunculus. First. Stem. — The 
stem should be strong, straight, from eight to twelve inches in 
height, and capable of supporting a large blossom. Second. 
Shape. — The blossom should resemble half a globe, with pet- 
als having entire well rounded edges, termed rose-leaved. 
Third. Size. — From two to three inches in diameter. Fourth. 
Colour. — Anything clear, rich, and brilliant, either consisting 
of one colour, as dark, white, crimson, yellow, &c. or bicolored, 
as edged, spotted, mottled, or striped. 
201 , AUCTAEIUM. 
