THE FLORIST. 
83 
ing, the plants should be cleaned, the surface of the soil stirred, 
and all broken or defaced tallies or number-sticks replaced with 
new ones, that no errors may occur by lost numbers, &c. Top- 
dress with equal parts of decomposed cow or horse manure and 
good mellow loam or maiden earth. All tender or scarce varie¬ 
ties should have a little extra protection given through this 
month with something of an open quality that will not draw the 
plants, yet secure them from cutting winds. Sow Pink seed 
about the middle of the month on any light, rich, sandy compost 
in pans, pots, or boxes ; protect them from hail and heavy rains. 
As soon as you observe them begin to germinate, remove them 
to a shady situation, or protect them from the sun after nine 
o’clock in the morning, J. T. Neville. 
Polyanthuses under pot-culture will require the same attention and 
treatment as the Auricula, but may be allowed the benefit of warm 
showers much longer. Though this be the case, care must be 
taken that no rain falls on the expanded blossoms, as it consider¬ 
ably impairs the brilliancy of their colours. Stir the surface of 
the soil in the out-beds of both named varieties and seedlings, 
clean them of decaying foliage, and top-dress the beds if not 
already done. Examine the early blooming seedlings, and if a 
superior marked variety presents itself (though it be pin-eyed), 
preserve it as a seeder, and fertilise it with the best variety you 
have in flower at the time. J. T. Neville. 
PLANTING. 
Ranunculus. —The last fortnight in February, and the first fort¬ 
night in March, make the month within which the Ranunculus 
should be planted. Florists, as a class, are distinguished for 
forethought, and hence it may be assumed, that not only the 
locality for this floral gem has been allotted in the garden, but 
the necessary compost prepared. The formation of beds is pro¬ 
perly the work of autumn, and the soil should not be disturbed 
at this season more than about two inches deep ; but if in any 
case this operation has been neglected, loam of tenacious, but 
not clayey texture should be procured, and mixed with half the 
quantity of decomposed cow or horse-manure ; and with this the 
beds should be made up one foot in depth. The top layer, of 
two inches thickness, should be free from fresh manure. Vege¬ 
table is to be preferred to animal manure for this stratum, if 
added just previous to planting. 
The beds should be level, not rising more than an inch above 
the path, unless the soil be heavy, and the subsoil cold, in which 
case a greater elevation is admissible. Three feet to three feet 
four inches will be found a convenient width. For planting 
varieties under name on a small scale, margin-boards, of three- 
quarters of an inch in width, painted lead-colour, and numbered 
progressively with white paint, will be found the most secure, 
and at the same time a neat arrangement, laths of any kind 
