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RANUNCULUSES. 71 
they are of courfe, naturally partial to 
coolnefs and moifture exempt from froft, 
which the more delicate forts cannot 
bear, in any conliderable degree, without 
material injury. 
A frefh, ftrong, rich, loamy foil is pre¬ 
ferable to all others for Ranunculufes. 
The bed fhould be dug from eighteen 
inches to two feet deep, and not raifed 
more than four inches above the level of 
the walks, to preferve the moifture more 
effeUually : at about five inches below 
the furface fhould be placed a ft rat uni 
of two year old rotten cow dung, mixed 
with earth, fix or eight inches thick; 
but the earth above this ftratum, where 
the roots are to be planted, fhould be 
perfeftly free from dung, which would 
prove injurious, rather than of benefit, 
if too near them. The fibres will draw 
fufficient nourifhment from it at the 
depth 
