46 
LADIES' FLOWED GARDENED. 
the auriculas, sink them up to their leaves in the soil, but do not 
press the mould round the plant, as the flowers bloom finest when 
the roots touch the sides of the flower pot. 
The auricula is esteemed fine that has a low stem, a stalk pro¬ 
portioned to the flower, the eye well opened, and always dry. 
The glossy, the velvet, and the streaked auriculas are the most 
admired. The stalk should be decked with many flower-bells, to 
be handsome and healthy. 
Take care to pull off all dead leaves round the plant at all 
times, that it may appear neat and clean. Neatness is favorable 
to its perfect growth, as well as decorating it to the eye. 
The Ranunculus does not like being mixed up with other 
flowers, and from this “ aristocratic principle ” it is always planted 
in separate knots 
This flower loves sun and warmth. The root must be planted 
in September, to bloom early in the summer, and it delights in 
a rich, moist soil, well dug, and raked soft and fine. When you 
plant them in beds or pots, they must be sunk two inches deep, 
and dibble the hole with a round, not pointed, dibble. Place the 
roots four or five inches apart, in the warmest situation in your 
garden. By planting ranunculuses in pots, you can more easily 
place them in warm situations, and withdraw them from heavy 
rains. The more room you give these roots the finer they will 
grow and blow. If your plots will allow of so doing, let the 
roots be planted six or seven inches apart. The flowers will 
repay your care. When ranunculuses in pots have flowered, re¬ 
move them from the August rains, or take up the roots, to re¬ 
plant in September. 
The Ranunculus with the double white flower must not be 
taken up until September, when it should be taken up qpiickljr, 
its roots parted, and replanted immediately 
