QUA 
RIIO 
new shoots twice stopped in the course 
of the season’s growth, or they become 
drawn and naked. 
QUAMOCLIT (Touhnefokt.) Nat. 
Ord. Convolvulcicea . The greater part 
of this genus are handsome half-hardy 
annuals, which should be reared in a 
hot-bed in spring, and may afterwards 
be removed to the borders of the flower- 
garden, or to pots for decorating the 
conservatory; Q. vulgaris , better known 
as Ipomea quamoclit, is a familiar in¬ 
stance of this part of the genus. The 
perennial kinds may be planted to cover 
the pillars of the greenhouse, or stove, 
and are then very ornamental. 
RANUNCULUS (Linn.) Nat. Ord. 
Ranuncidaceoi. R. asiaticus, the garden 
Ranunculus, is a very old and general 
favorite; its flowers are divided by flo¬ 
rists into three classes, the Dutch varie¬ 
ties, the Scotch varieties, and turbans. 
There is a multitude of the first two, 
those of the second being every way 
preferable. The culture of the whole 
is, however, the same, and may be 
shortly stated thus. Let the ground, 
whatever its texture, be well manured, 
and thorouglily dug and pulverized in 
the autumn. The best time for plant¬ 
ing is the last week in February, and 
by this time the ground will have settled 
down pretty firm ; the surface should be 
entirely removed to the depth of about 
two inches, not more, and being 
raked level the roots are placed on it 
and the surface mould returned. Some 
recommend the month of October for 
planting; this we object to, except in 
the case of requiring an early bloom for 
flower-garden purposes, when it is best 
to plant only the hardy turban varieties ; 
with the others there is considerable 
danger of their receiving injury from 
frost and excessive wet, and, conse¬ 
quently, it is preferable to defer it to 
the season first mentioned. When the 
blooms are advancing it is no unusual 
tiling for the weather to set in dry; 
when this happens, the ranunculus must 
have abundance of water given them, 
and if every other application be diluted 
liquid manure, it will give them addi¬ 
tional vigour; a slight shade is neces¬ 
sary to preserve the flowers, and every 
available means should be resorted to at 
this time to keep the plants in vigour, as 
they are not only supporting the flowers, 
but the new roots are just arriving^ 
perfection, and therefore should have 
every encouragement. A top dressing 
of half rotten leaves, or partly decom¬ 
posed manure will be beneficial, and the 
paths may be filled up with old tan; in 
short, every means likely to keep the 
earth moist should have attention. Yery 
soon after the blooming season the 
leaves will begin to decay, a sign that 
the roots are fit for taking up ; a great 
deal depends on this being done at exactly 
the right time, for if taken up before 
they are ripe a loss of vigour is neces¬ 
sarily felt, and the same happens if they 
are allowed to stand even for a few 
days beyond the proper time ; the fit 
state is easily known by the leaves part¬ 
ing from the root with a slight pull; 
when this can be done let them be at 
once removed, and after cleansing them 
from the soil, spread them thinly in a 
shaded place to dry, turning them fre¬ 
quently, and at last give them one or 
two hours’ exposure to the sun to finish 
them completely, and make them fit for 
storing away for the winter. There are 
several other species of the genus, all 
hardy border plants, which grow in anv 
situation or soil, a few are ornamental, 
but the majority are only fit for large 
shrubbery borders. 
RESEDA (Linn.) Natural Order 
Resedacece. R. odorota, the Mignonette, 
is a useful little annual, generally es¬ 
teemed for its perfume; for summer 
flowering it only requires to be sown 
where it is desired to bloom, but for 
winter flowering, it should be sown in 
August, and the young plants potted, 
and kept gently growing till the season 
arrives for placing it in the house; a 
succession sowing in February, the 
plants being placed in a very gentle 
heat, will afford blossoms all the year. 
RHODANTHE (Lindley.) Nat. 
Ord. Composite. R. Manglesii is one 
of the most beautiful dwarf annuals we 
possess, its singularly glaucous foliage 
and neat habit, together with the lovely 
L 
