124 
REVIEW. 
on the surface, pressing them in a little and gently, so as to fix them 
in a proper position. Then cover eafch row separately with the same 
compost before recommended, in such a manner as to form small 
ridges about four inches high. If planted in a southern aspect, these 
ridges should run north and south, if in an eastern aspect, east and 
west, the blossom bud of the tulips should always face the sun. The 
tulip root is, in a degree, conical, flattened a little at the base on one 
side;—here the bud lies from which the flower stalk proceeds; the 
leaves proceed from the top of the cone, the flower stalk passing 
beautifully through them. The Dutch are so careful not to injure 
the bud, that they always leave one or two inches of the flower stalk 
adhering to their tulips, when in a dried state ; it is chiefly for want 
of attention to this simple process, that tulips are seldom found two 
years successively in an equal degree of perfection. 
To Propagate the Rhododendron from Seed.— February 
is the season that the seed of this beautiful plant is ripe, and it should 
be gathered on a dry day, and spread on paper, laid in a warm place 
or before the fire, until the capsules open, which will be in the course 
of eight or ten hours, when the seed may be easily shaken out. In 
March, choose a piece of ground in a sheltered situation, and shaded 
from the mid-day sun; prepare a piece of ground by digging and 
breaking it very fine, then lay six inches of fine sifted turf mould 
over. Sow the seed thick on the surface, and cover it with dried 
moss, finely chopped and rubbed small. Then give a hearty water¬ 
ing, with a fine rose, in order to wash the seed into their mould. 
The use of the moss is to protect the young plant, and should not be 
removed. The plants will be ready to plant in nursery rows the 
third year after sowing, and should be planted in the same sort of 
mould as directed for the seed. 
Culture of the Ranunculus.— -Remove twelve inches of the 
surface earth from your beds, taking the level from your walks, then 
have the earth at bottom well dug or broken up eighteen inches; or 
if it will admit of it, two feet more in depth. Then lay in manure 
seven inches in thickness over this, say three parts of cow-dung, six 
months old, and a fourth part of sand or mud, obtained, if possible, 
from the bank of a river, well mixed together. If this manure be 
prepared a few months before it is used, and occasionally turned, the 
i 
better; over this place a compost of five inches of the following 
materials :--- 
Cow-dung mould, three years old, if possible,. one sixth. 
Sea sand, ... one eighth. 
Turf mould, . ditto. 
