5GG THE GARDENER. [Dec. 



inserted to such a depth as will bring their tops about level with the 

 surface of the soil, and those naturally small should be slightly covered 

 over with the soil. Nearly all the spring-flowering sorts will bear a 

 little forcing, and by this means a welcome succession of flower may 

 be kept up throughout the dreary winter months. The C. jjersicum 

 sorts are best for this purpose. They bear extra excitement with less 

 injury than most of the hardier species do. 



C. Coum is a diminutive species, but also one of the earliest flower- 

 ing, and consequently very desirable, though not one of the handsomest. 

 The corms are smaller and smoother than those of the same age of 

 most other species. The leaves are small, round, heart-shaped at the 

 base, and entire on the margin. The corolla is small, bright red or 

 purplish red, and divided into five ovate reflexed lobes. Flowers from 

 February to ApriL Native of the mountains of the south of Europe 

 at high elevations. C. C. Album is a very pretty variety of this species, 

 and, flowering as it does at the same time, is an excellent companion 

 to it. C. C. carneum is another interesting variety, with blush- 

 coloured flowers. 



C. vermnn has small corms. Leaves small, round, cordate at the 

 base, and slightly notched at the point, the upper surface zoned with 

 a band of pale green within the margin. The flowers are deep crim- 

 son, and appear in March and April. Native of the south of Europe 

 at high elevations. 



C. repandum, sometimes called ficari^folium, is one of the best 

 of the smaller-growing species. The corm is smalL Leaves roundish, 

 cordate, obscurely lobed, and minutely toothed. Lobes of corolla 

 broadly ovate, bright red at the base, shading off into rose. Flowers 

 in April and May. Greece. Rather a tender species, and very im- 

 patient of wet in winter. 



C. iberlcuin, a very beautiful and distinct species. Leaves roundish, 

 heart-shaped, sometimes toothed, often entire, and zoned irregularly 

 with a band of greyish green. The flowers are large, variable in 

 colour in shades of rose and white, but always marked at the base of 

 the lobes, v^hich are sharply lance-shaped, with a dark crimson or 

 purplish crimson blotch. Flowers in March and April. Iberia. 



C. i^erslcum, though the tenderest, is one of the best. The corms 

 are large. Leaves large, rather variable in form, but generally broadly 

 ovate, with a deeply cordate base and slightly toothed margin, and 

 more or less zoned irregularly with pale greyish green. Flowers large, 

 dark red or crimson at the base of the lobes, which are white or pink- 

 ish white. Flowers in March and April. Cyprus. C. Coum hybridised 

 with the pollen of C. persicum, by Mr Atkins of Pains wick, produced 

 the famous cross named C. Atkinsii, which for profusion of bloom, fine 



