THE FLORIST. 65 



sitifolia, Sedoides, Hypnoides, Crassifolia, and Ambrosa, or London 

 Pride. 



Sedums. — Also good rock-plants. One or two good ones are, 

 Sieboldii, pink ; Kamschaticum ; and Saxatile. 



Silene. — Shaftii, Hispanica, Fimbriata, Sibirica, are worth 

 growing. 



Statices. — These like a sandy loam ; they may be increased by 

 dividing the roots. One or two of the best are, Bellidifolia, Globu- 

 larisefolia, Elata, Latifolia, Viminea, Tatarica, Flexuosa. 



J. Dobson. 



THE CROCUS. 



Between the Dahlia show and that of the Auricula there occurs 

 a weary waste in the life of the florist, the intervening moiety of 

 the year being devoid of those cheering hopes and spirit-stirring 

 anxieties which, almost uninterruptedly, attend his pursuit in the 

 other annual half circle. 



No real necessity, however, exists for this large blank in his exist- 

 ence, whilst the Crocus springs up every March to claim its share 

 of his affection. There is no law which forbids him to take another 

 favourite under his protection ; and I know of no fresh candidate for 

 his favour which would better reward the care of the florist than the 

 Crocus. She will sport if he chooses, assume that fulness of form 

 which he so much prizes in the Tulip, the Pansy, and the Geranium ; 

 and she requires no petting. She is very fertile, both breeding and 

 seeding freely, except when she assumes a yellow hue, and then she 

 breeds only. The meanest of her progeny need not be cast away, 

 so long as spring can find the ground-line of a hedgerow unadorned 

 with her vernal bloom. 



I have about 240 yards of the border of a fence by a highway- 

 side planted with Crocuses ; and it has given me great delight to 

 find how much pleasure their gay flowers contribute to passers-by. 

 " Ah ! a garden, a garden !" exclaimed one, and that one a man 

 too, with a tone and manner which partook of delight and surprise. 

 For road-side decoration the Snowdrop is also a suitable flower. I 

 have that bulb close to the stems of some of my fences, and the 

 Crocus in a row in front of it ; and thus I have a bright line below 

 my hedges in February, and another in March and April. 



If prizes were offered for the best collection of Crocuses, they 

 would be the means probably of making many varieties known 

 which have not been dreamt of by some growers ; and the same may 

 be said of Columbines, which are well worth the attention of the 

 florist. There may be many choice collections of Crocuses in the 

 country ; and I should like to see specimens of them publicly ex- 

 hibited. The only superior one which I know of is near Man- 

 chester, in the possession of a most enthusiastic grower and admirer 

 of what are called botanical plants. 



Forton Cottage. R. T. 



