PLANTS WORTH GROWING 183 
allowed to develop the first season. A wet soil in 
Winter is the next thing likely to cause trouble. 
Pyrethrums like any amount of water in Summer, 
but want a porous, well-drained soil in Winter. 
Slugs and snails are responsible for much loss owing 
to their fondness of the juicy young crowns, which 
they will eat right down to the root. Dusting the 
ground around the plants with soot will help con- 
siderably to arrest the progress of these pests. 
Cutting away the entire foliage while still green is 
another life-shortener. This is frequently done to 
induce a second crop of flowers, but these are 
produced at the expense of the vitality of the plant, 
and ere long it will succumb to Winter's wet. With 
these few points in mind the cultivator may find 
quarters and treatment that will ensure complete 
and gratifying success. 
Ranunculus. — Wherever it is too wet for Pyre- 
thrums, we may be sure we may plant one or other 
of the many kinds of Ranunculus, and from the 
native Buttercup of the meadows to the tall and 
chaste white-flowered R. Lyalli, the whole family 
is full of interest and lovable charm. Yellow 
predominates, but many of the yellow-flowered 
species have white-flowered counterparts. There 
are also the tuberous-rooted Persian Ranunculus, 
with brilliant scarlet, crimson, and orange shades, 
and throughout the genus we find handsome foliage 
as well as beautiful flowers. Water-gardens, bogs, 
shady woodland walks, grassy stretches under the 
