A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

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RAN 494 RAN
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parent plant, and are, therefore, fit to I will not reach it at all, or if they do,
be planted as full grown tubers the their sudden transition into deep cornsame
season in which they are removed. post is at least unnatural: it is more
Smaller ones, which are unfit to bloom consonant with reason that the food
the following year, may be planted in a should be generally and equally dished
prepared, as to be directed for the tributed." Card. Chron.
full sized roots." Planting.—"The bed being about
By Dividing the Tubers.—In minutely four feet in width," adds Dr. Horner,
examining the crown of a ranunculus '" and any suitable length, and having
root, several small protuberances will been neatly smoothed over, the roots
be found, from each of which a shoot should be planted about five inches
will arise, and the root may, therefore, distant from each other in rows, which,
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be divided by a sharp knife into as again, should be about six inches apart,
many parts as there are protuberances; If planted closer, as is commonly the
and "thus the danger of losing any rare case, the plants will grow comparatively
variety is much diminished. These weak, and bloom more sparingly.
sections will not bloom till the second
year." Hort. Trans.
Soil.—Mr. Hovy of Boston, one of
the best of the American horticulturists,
is quite right in recommending, as " the
best soil tor the ranunculus, a strong
rich mellow loam ; but good garden
loam, enriched with very old cow manure,
or leaf-mould, will answer—fresh
mould, however, will insure a much
better bloom."
" A somewhat moist and cool situation,"
says Dr. Horner, one of the best
of amateur floriculturists, " is the most
suitable. The bed, therefore, should
be so situated that it receive but a few
hours of the morning sun, and be in the
lowest part of the garden. It must not
be raised higher than the surrounding
walks ; should be two feet in depth of
soil, and have board instead of box
edging, that slugs, &c., which often eat
the tender foliage and opening flowerbuds
of some varieties, may not be
sheltered. The only suitable soil is a
retentive loam, from the surface of a
rich old pasture, the sods included ; to
The situation of the rows having
been marked out, holes, one and a half
inch deep, should be dibbled with the
finger, or other instrument, in which
the roots should be compactly set, and
covered over with soil, after the manner
of dibbling beans, by this means the
surrounding soil is not disturbed, but
left close and retentive.
" The next best plan is drawing drills
across the beds in rows, setting the
roots therein, and then filling them up
with the displaced soil ; the worst of all
plans being the raking the bed evenly
over, setting the roots on it, and then
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covering the whole one and a half inch
with loose soil— yet this is commonly
practised." Ibid.
Choice of Roots.—Mr. Glenny recommends
" the middle sized, with firm
tubers and plump buds, as preferable
for planting; and care should be taken
to place a little sand under and over
each, to guard them against too much
moisture." Gard. and Pract. Florist.
General Management.— " About the
beginning of April," says Dr. Horner,
which should be added, and well in the young plants will appear above
corporated, one third of thoroughly- ground, when the loosened soil should
decayed cow manure. Fresh manure be carefully yet firmly compressed with
the fingers abAt the roots,
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must be avoided, as the roots will not
bloom where it exists, but many will
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«< During the months of April and
perish. All hot and stimulating com- May, should a continuance of dry
posts are equally pernicious. With the weather prevail, water may be cautiousenriched
soil just recommended, the ly administered at intervals in an evenbed
should be made at the beginning
of October, and finished off, and, on no
account, disturbed till planting time ;
for it is all important that the soil be
compact and close in which the roots
ing, but only just so much as will prevent
the soil of the bed from cracking;
or a little moss, or old spent tanner's
bark, &c., may be neatly placed between
the rows, which will retain the
are planted.
moisture in the soil. The injudicious
" The practice of putting some inches and over abundant application of water
is a very common error, and one of the
greatest evils. It not unfrequently hap-
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of manure at the bottom of the bed is
not to be commended ; the roots either