will bear a full crop of fruit as large as Hovey's Seedling. Such a strawberry is, I think, the Cushing.

Buist's Prize.-This magnificent strawberry was grown from seed in 1842. In flavor it far surpasses Hovey's Seedling; every flower being perfect, it excels it as a general and constant bearer, is also earlier and continues longer in fruit, having upon the same plant, at the same time, ripe fruit and perfect flowers.

Burr's New Pine.-Compared with Hovey's Seedling, the New Pine is equal to it in average size, while it greatly exceeds it in productiveness, and especially in flavor. Fruit large, color pale red; believed to be the best strawberry cultivated.

Besides these, if we may believe the evidence of individuals "born in a garden," the "Black Prince is, on the whole, the highest flavored and the best strawberry yet known in this country."

But, without occupying room in copying additional evidence of the supposed superiority of all the new kinds, let us see how the public, through our Horticultural Societies, regard the matter the present season.

In Philadelphia, the first prize was awarded to Mr. Joseph J. Hatch, for HOVEY'S SEEDLING, who exhibited only that variety and the Boston Pine. In competition, were the Black Prince, Burr's New Pine, and a dozen other sorts.

In Rochester, the first prize was awarded to M. G. Warner, for HOVEY'S SEEDLING, and the second to Lewis Burtis, for HOVEY'S SEEDLING. In competition, were the Black Prince, Burr's New Pine, Cushing, and a dozen others.

In Boston, the first prize was awarded to Josiah Richardson, for the BOSTON PINE; the second, to O. Johnson, for HovEY'S SEEDLING; and the third, to Hovey & Co., for the BOSTON PINE.

These are the reports, so far as they have come to hand, and are but the repetition of the same thing, for a dozen years. And now Dr. Bayne's question may again be pertinently asked, "Have you yet procured one which can successfully compete with Hovey's Seedling?" Where are these noted kinds which were to surpass it? Why do they not take

the prizes? Why do they not appear at our horticultural exhibitions? Why are they not seen in our markets? This is what puzzles the amateur cultivator. He is desirous of adding all the fine sorts to his collection, and when he sees a flaming advertisement, or an editorial notice, setting forth a variety as surpassing Hovey's Seedling, he is willing to purchase a few plants at any price; but all-every one of them-have proved a failure; and, fearful of the same disappointment again, the numerous inquiries, similar to Dr. Bayne's, are made of us, as to what are real acquisitions to our list of strawberries.

The remarks already made, are our best reply. We, at least, know of no two varieties which will at all equal the Seedling and the Boston Pine. Four years ago, (Vol. XI, p. 294,) we stated this, and we have seen no occasion to alter our opinion. Others there are which are good-but we take it that this is not what the cultivator will be satisfied with. In a fruit like the strawberry, those kinds combining the merits of all others, are only wanted-and any thing less than this would be comparatively worthless.

In our remarks, we do not, of course, intend to include seedlings not yet brought to notice, of which there are thousands, and among them, perhaps, some which may prove better than any thing yet known;-it is only of kinds already in cultivation, that we refer to.

It has been stated, that no new variety of fruit should be introduced to cultivation, which does not possess some one or more qualities over those of the same kind, already known. This is perfectly true, and is just the principle we have adopted in the growth of any new fruit or flower. Let this test always be adopted, and then our catalogues will contain a far less number of comparatively worthless sorts.

But the question is, who is to be the judge of the qualities of a new seedling; it may be said, the producer is not, for he will be prejudiced in its favor. This we admit in most instances, for we have seen too many inferior productions palmed off as the best of their kind. An individual names a seedling strawberry, and without, perhaps, ever having had the true Hovey's Seedling, or seen it under good cultivation, he at once assumes that it is superior to that variety. But

there are exceptions to this rule, for we know that there are amateurs, as well as nurserymen, who will not let any thing go out under their name, which shall not come up fully to their descriptions, made with a full knowledge of the merits of every variety of the same fruit.

Let any cultivator cast his eye over the long list of "renowned" varieties of strawberries, as one of our nurserymen has described some of them, which have already become among the things that were; and we will venture to assert that, out of the very large number of seedlings of a more recent date, not one of them will be cultivated half a dozen years hence.

It is gratifying to know that, notwithstanding the small chance of obtaining new strawberries of superior quality, from seed, so much interest is manifested in their production. Many of our amateur friends, around Boston, possess a great number of plants, and our only hope is, that they may be repaid for their labor, by the fortunate discovery of at least one variety which shall eclipse any thing yet known.

ART. IV. On the Cultivation and Management of the Ranunculus. By Dr. F. HORNER, Hull, near London. With Remarks. By the EDITOR.

FEW flowers equal in brilliancy of color, or perfectness of form, the ranunculus, and the best evidence of its real beauty is the admiration which even a single bloom always excites. wherever seen. We well recollect the delight with which every visitor viewed a small bed of these plants, which we were successful in blooming in our younger days, when we had more leisure upon our hands, and,-"no copy" to supply,could devote a few spare hours to the proper preparation and careful management of a bed of ranunculuses, as well as many other of the florist's favorites. It is long since we have had a collection under our immediate care, but our admiration for it has not decreased, nor our desire to cultivate it in the least degree lessened. We hope soon, in common, we trust, with many of our amateur friends, to avail ourselves

of the good advice which we are about to lay before them from Dr. Horner, a very successful ranunculus grower, near London.

It cannot be denied that the ranunculus is, in some degree, a "capricious" flower; for we have seen many beds which would not afford sufficient bloom to repay for the labor of planting. But that this may not be avoided when its habits are thoroughly studied, it is idle to believe; for the art of cultivation has been carried too far to stop in this almost solitary instance of the ranunculus.

In our earlier volumes, (VI, p. 416,) we have already detailed our own experience in the cultivation of this beautiful flower; and later, our correspondent, S. Walker, Esq., has given our readers the results of his management, (X, p. 326,) which has been equally as successful as our own; both of these articles are of the highest interest to cultivators in our climate, which will not admit of precisely the same treatment as that of Great Britain. In connexion with Dr. Horner's advice, they furnish all the instruction needed to grow the ranunculus, with ordinary judgment and care, in as fine condition as the amateur could wish.

As the season is now close at hand when operations should be commenced, the amateur should lose no time in getting his bed ready, for it is on the proper preparation of the bed that success, in most cases, depends. This being done, the roots can be purchased at a leisure time before the planting season arrives. We can assure our floral friends no flower will give them so much pleasure as a bed of ranunculuses, and our only hope is, that the reading of the annexed article will prompt those who are admirers of all that is elegant in nature to secure a hundred or more roots :

As the ranunculus will this month be in bloom, and consequently especially attract the attention of florists, I beg to offer a few remarks on its management.

This is indeed a flower of extraordinary characteristics, uniting in itself properties and endowments of rare and almost opposite combinations. For we may say of it, that it is grand, yet elegant; gorgeous, yet simple; dazzling to behold, yet lovely to look upon, &c. And assuredly its richly luxu

riant and diversified foliage, bespreading the ground; its graceful flower-stem, erect and elegant, rising from the midst, and canopied with its symmetrical crown of bloom, of every tint and hue of color combined, intermingled, yet unconfounded and distinct, commands our preference and admiration. Nay, further, it may be observed, that, though the cultivated varieties of the ranunculus now amount to some thousands, yet all differ from each other in their marking or colors.

The circumstance of this flower not being universally grown by florists may be attributed to the uninviting character of its being a rather capricious flower; but rather it should be said, that it is one which will not do well unless it be suitably managed. There is little, however, really discouraging in this; for it will be found that nothing can be more simple and easy of fulfilment than the practice adopted by those who are uniformly successful in its cultivation.

The Ranunculus asiaticus, the variety grown in our gardens, is a native of the Levant, and of the natural order Ranunculaceæ of Jussieu; and this circumstance at once aids us in determining the kind of soil and situation most suitable for it. The wild ranunculus, or buttercup, affects a cool, moist, and shaded locality; these conditions, therefore, it is desirable to realise in the culture of the garden variety. Hence it is indicated that the bed should be formed of a retentive soil, should not be in an elevated part of the garden, and not subjected to the hot rays of the mid-day sun. It may, moreover, be about four feet in width, and should have board, or slate, rather than box edging, that refuge may not be afforded to slugs, which often eat the newly-formed flower-bud. As the roots of the ranunculus strike deep, two and a half feet of soil is required.

The natural soil of the garden having been dug out, let it be replaced by a compound of pasture soil and cow manure. The surface-soil of a rich old pasture, well turned over and exposed to a winter's frost, and thoroughly enriched and uniformly incorporated with cow manure, not less than a year old, forms an appropriate compost; and by adding, year by year, about three inches of such manure to the surface, and digging it into the soil about a spade's depth, a fit medium for