272 
THE FLORIST. 
the liquid element, dancing and sparkling in the sunshine, is an 
agreeable feature in the scene, as viewed from the windows of the 
rooms; and the falling watery spray, suggesting ideas of coolness, 
is no less delightful in the surrounding stillness of a summer even¬ 
ing.’’ On this part of the subject, however, much must be left to 
circumstances, and the taste and judgment of the designer. 
It would be useless here to advert to the delightful effects of 
water in landscapes of every description, but especially in gardens. 
We therefore close this notice of fountains, in the hope, as we before 
stated, that it may have the effect of drawing attention to the sub¬ 
ject, which is all that we desire, and which, indeed, is all that is 
wanted; for if once that is effected, British taste and ingenuity will 
speedily supply the rest. 
THE RANUNCULUS. 
With what pertinacity do men cling to their own ingrafted notions 
of things, esj)ecially when such notions have rather been instilled and 
handed down to them by their predecessors, than the result of mature 
reflection, or of experimental inquiry. 
That the new principles of practice which I set forth, in respect 
to the abstaining from watering the Ranunculus-bed in continued 
droughty weather, would meet with the opposition of some, I expected 
and foretold; but, that what I stated and restated would not be 
comprehended, I did not think a possible event, or, equally so, that 
it would be perverted to “ adorn a tale” or dialogue: for example, 
* Experimens,’ in alluding to the cause of failure in the Ranunculus, 
leads it to be inferred, or rather states, totidem verbis, that, while 
some attribute such failure to drought, I, on the contrary, suppose 
drought has nothing whatever to do with it, and rather recommend 
that not one drop of water should be given. This is unpardonable— 
since I have added line upon line, precept upon precept, throughout 
my communication, that moisture is a sine qua non. I have said, 
that the Ranunculus delights in moisture — that the soil in which 
it is grown should be of a retentive (of moisture) nature—that the bed 
should be made in a cool and somewhat shaded locality — that it 
should run from east to west, in order that it might the more readily 
and perfectly be shaded, by a tall side-awning, from the hot rays of 
the mid-day sun. I, moreover, recommended, as the great panacea 
for retaining moisture in the bed, that its surface should be covered 
an inch, or an inch and a half, with sand, moss, or spent tanner’s 
bark; and yet, further, I add, that no practice, however judicious, 
can fully compensate for a droughty season, as the Ranunculus 
delights in natural moisture! 1 abstain from all comment, beyond 
the expression of the hope, that ‘ Experimens’ feels the unjustness 
of his remarks. 
And here I beg to observe, that, when speaking of the importance * 
of natural moisture, I do not allude simply to the soil, but compre- 
