FASHION may be allied to folly, but it is often the concrete expression of inevitable circumstances. Flowers become fashionable, and after a time they become unfashionable, and in certain particular cases that have been inquired into it was discovered that the determining cause was not to be found in man so much as in nature. When for several years in succession certain flowers have, through unfavourable weather, failed to reward their cultivators and admirers, those same flowers have gone out of fashion, although what we properly understand as fashion had little or nothing to do with it. The hollyhock has of late years been out of fashion, owing to the prevalence of a destructive fungus which first disfigures the plant and finally destroys it. The grand double dahlias have been out of fashion, owing to a series of cold summers; but in the year 1881, when it was thought the single dahlias were alone worthy of attention, the grand old double flowers came forth in such splendour that at one of the exhibitions where myriads of the single flowers were on view, very few persons saw them because of the superior attractions of the older and nobler varieties that had acquired historic renown as the most resplendent of all the autumnal flowers.

It must be confessed that the ranunculus is at the present time not a fashionable flower, for in truth it is comparatively unknown in its proper character to the race of modern florists. But its day may come again, and when it is once more seen in a state of high development as a familiar garden flower, people will ask how it could happen that such a "gem of purest ray serene" could lose its hold upon popular affection through a whole series of years. And the question is worth asking now, for there is no flower known to cultivators that so completely satisfies the requirements of the floral canons as the ranunculus. The dahlia may rank next to it in respect of technical merit, but the refinement of the ranunculus is unique, and its range of variety almost boundless; and it needs no costly appliances for its most perfect cultivation.

This flower was cultivated in the East for centuries before it became known in Northern Europe. The Dutch first became possessed of it; from them, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, our florists obtained it; and thus it was known just in time to have a proper place in the works of Turner and Gerarde and Parkinson. The British growers soon outsped the Dutchmen in the production of fine varieties, as they have done also in the case of the anemone, tulip, and other famous flowers for which they have been indebted to Holland in the first instance. Fifty years ago there were in cultivation fully a thousand named varieties; indeed, Maddock catalogued eight hundred. Twenty years ago the fullest catalogue current contained only three hundred, and at the present time when we meet with a trade list it comprises a few dozen only, or perhaps less than a score.

But as there are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it, so the amateur who will labour earnestly in raising seedling ranunculuses may soon become possessed of a race of first-class flowers, answering in "properties" to the severest requirements of the florists. The seed should be sown in January, in boxes of sweet loamy soil without manure, and the boxes should be kept in a frame or a cool greenhouse. The plants should appear in about six weeks. They require only ordinary attention as regards watering and so forth, but they will not endure neglect, and it is of great importance to let them have plenty of air and light from the first, to insure perfect hardiness. When the leaves die down in July, the bulbs are to be sifted out and stored away in dry sand.

The roots (or tubers), whether purchased or raised from seed, should be planted out in November in gardens that are well drained and remote from towns; but where the soil is damp or there is much coal-smoke, it is best not to plant them out until February, so that there shall be no growth above ground until the spring is somewhat advanced. A deep loam suits the flower better than any other soil, and the roots should be planted only two inches deep; and as regards distance it is a good rule to put them five inches apart each way, and of course alternating throughout the bed. For display irrespective of high quality, the cheap turban ranunculuses are invaluable, and as hardy as any choice flowers known to our gardens.