The species of Ranunculus may be divided into two kinds: border flowers and florists' flowers. The latter consist of some hundreds of varieties obtained from the species Ranunculus asiaticus, a native of the Levant with tuberous roots, which is rather too tender to endure the winter in the open air without some kind of protection. The wild plant grows naturally in Persia, in meadows which are moist during winter and in the growing season, but dry during great part of summer. Hence, one of the first requisites in the culture of this flower is a loamy soil kept moist; and as the varieties are all double, and in a highly artificial state, the soil requires to be made very rich with leaf mould, or the mould of hotbed dung. The common season for planting the Ranunculus is November; the roots may be placed about six inches apart every way, covered with two inches of soil, and protected by straw, mats, or rotten tan, during severe frosts. The plants will come into flower in July, and when the leaves wither, the roots may be taken up, dried in the shade, and preserved in a dry place till they are wanted for replanting.

A great many named kinds may be procured in the seed-shops, the most distinct of which are the Turban, or very dark red, the orange, the white, and the fine or cut-leaved. As the plant seeds freely, even when semi-double, new sorts without end may be raised from seed, which may be sown in pots or flat pans as soon as it is gathered, and placed in a cold frame. Those persons who wish to grow the Ranunculus as a prize flower, should consult Hogg's Treatise on the Ranunculus, or some other work exclusively devoted to florists' flowers; but for private gardens, it may be sufficient to remark the following particulars. The tubers, if kept dry, will retain their vitality for two or three years; and hence, if roots which should be planted in November are kept out of the ground till the November following, and then planted and protected from frost, and when they appear above ground put into greenhouse heat, they will flower at Christmas. If not planted until December, they will flower about the end of January; and if not planted till January, they will flower in March. In this way, by always having a stock of old roots, and planting some every month in the year, Ranunculuses may be had in flower all the year round. - (Ladies' Companion to the Flower-Garden.)

567. The Anemone is treated in the same manner as the Ranunculus.