174 
CULTURE OF THE RANUNCULUS. 
whilst the broad-leaved ones appear to suffer more than the lattei 
from being kept in a dry state all winter; and if kept in sand they 
are liable to become mouldy. 3. In planting either during the au¬ 
tumn or spring never plant in holes or drills, a practice not uncom¬ 
mon ; but, having marked with a rod some lines across the bed, four 
or six inches apart, place the roots carefully with the crowns upwards, 
four inches apart in the rows, and lay a portion ol sand round and 
upon each root, and then cover them with not more than two inches 
thickness of light dry soil. 4. Never select the largest roots to 
plant for a flowering-bed, for they generally divide into offsets, and 
seldom flower well; choose the middle size, and your expectations 
will not be disappointed. 5. It is indispensable that the roots 
never be allowed to come in contact with raw dung, or they are sure 
to become more or less diseased. To prevent this, when the roots are 
taken up, dig the bed to the bottom, turning up, and mixing the old 
cow dung well with the soil; then Dahlias or ornamental plants may 
be planted on it till the beginning of October, when the bed should 
be again trenched, and another layer of cow-dung placed under the 
soil as before. Take off from the surface about four inches 
thickness of the old soil, and lay on two inches of new loam, plant 
on this new soil, using sand, and covering with light dry sandy 
loam as before. 5. It is indispensable that no raw turf be in 
the soil in which the roots are planted, or they will be materially in¬ 
jured by coming in contact with it. 7. When the leaves appear 
above ground, choose a dry day, and press the soil firmly about the 
roots with the hands, as if the weather proves dry, and the crowns 
of the roots happen to be exposed, they will suffer material injury. 
8. In dry weather they will require watering, and this must be con¬ 
tinued, if they require it, until they are in full blow. 9. In situations 
where the sun has great power, shading must be resorted to, or the 
leaves will become yellow, and but few flowers will be produced. In 
all situations shading is necessary when they come into flower, or the 
flowers will neither be true to their colours, nor the roots so fine as 
they otherwise would be. This shading may be done either by means 
of an awning, on hoops and mats; by whatever means it is done, a 
free current of air must be allowed to pass underneath, or the stems 
will be weakly and unable to support the flowers. No covering should 
be nearer the ground than a foot and a half, or two feet. 10. Ne¬ 
ver allow the roots to remain in the ground after the herbage disap¬ 
pears. The best way of keeping them is in trays or drawers with 
wire bottoms, and divisions to hold a certain number of each sort.; as 
the tops ilic, the roots are taken up, and after being picked clean, are 
