Plate 160 . 
PERSIAN RANUNCULUS, FIDELIA 
AND LINDEN. 
Our earliest recollections of floriculture are connected with 
this beautiful flower. In days long since past we well remember 
the pleasure and excitement which a lovely bed of the old Dutch 
varieties created in us, and although we have witnessed many a 
fair sight since, and 44 assisted ” at many a grand flower-show, 
and ourselves grown many a bed of Ranunculus, yet still does 
the memory of that bed come before us. And as some consi¬ 
derable attention has been drawn to the Ranunculus lately, we 
have given in our present number an illustration of two very 
beautiful varieties raised by Mr. Carey Tyso, of Wallingford, 
who is so well known for the success with which he has culti¬ 
vated and hybridized it. 
That the Ranunculus should not be more extensively grown 
is due, we think, to two causes,—it is somewhat difficult of cul¬ 
ture where the soil is hot or the situation dry; thus with our¬ 
selves, in a garden exposed to the full force of the sun’s rays 
we find it very difficult (especially in a dry season) to grow it 
with any degree of success, although some few years ago, when 
we had a moist spring and cool summer, it prospered very well. 
And then it interferes with the universal mania of “ bedding 
out.” They do not come into flower until the middle of June, 
and the beds cannot be emptied until the end of the month, 
and it would sadly interfere with the 44 geometric design ” or 
the 44 chromatic arrangement ” to have a bed empty at that 
period; and when to this is added that it receives very little 
encouragement at our great flower-shows, it is not wonderful 
that it should have been so little grown. 
In saying this, w T e do not wish to discourage any one from 
