for any position in the garden. In a
cut state the flowers do excellent service. This subject is easily
cultivated, but to have large specimens, with plenty of flowers, a deep,
well enriched soil is indispensable; stagnant moisture should be
avoided. Autumn is the best time to divide the roots.

Flowering period, May to July.

Ranunculus Acris Flore-pleno.

DOUBLE ACRID CROWFOOT, YELLOW BACHELOR'S BUTTONS; _Nat. Ord._
RANUNCULACEAE.

The type of this is a common British plant, most nearly related to the
field buttercup. I am not going to describe it, but mention it as I wish
to introduce _R. acris fl.-pl._, sometimes called "yellow Bachelor's
Buttons"--indeed, that is the correct common name for it, as used fully
300 years ago. In every way, with the exception of its fine double
flowers, it resembles very much the tall meadow buttercup, so that it
needs no further description; but, common as is its parentage, it is
both a showy and useful border flower, and forms a capital companion to
the double white Bachelor's Buttons (_R. aconitifolius fl.-pl._).

Flowering period, April to June.

Ranunculus Amplexicaulis.

STEM-CLASPING RANUNCULUS; _Nat. Ord._ RANUNCULACEAE.

A very hardy subject; effective and beautiful. The form of this plant is
exceedingly neat, and its attractiveness is further added to by its
smooth and pale glaucous foliage. It was introduced into this country
more than 200 years ago, from the Pyrenees. Still it is not generally
grown, though at a first glance it asserts itself a plant of first-class
merit (see Fig. 80).

The shortest and, perhaps, best description of its flowers will be given
when I say they are white _Buttercups_, produced on stout stems nearly a
foot high, which are also furnished by entire stem-clasping leaves,
whence its name; other leaves are of varying forms, mostly broadly
lance-shaped, and some once-notched; those of the root are nearly
spoon-shaped. The whole plant is very smooth and glaucous, also covered
with a fine meal. As a plant, it is effective; but grown by the side of
_R. montanus_ and the geums, which have flowers of similar shape, it is
seen to more advantage.

On rockwork, in leaf soil, it does remarkably well; in loam it seems
somewhat stunted. Its flowers are very serviceable in a cut state, and
they are produced in succession for three or four weeks on the same
plant. It has large, fleshy, semi-tuberous roots, and many of them; so
that at