1873.] ON PROPAGATING THE ALTSSUM. 255 



I feel so liighly gratified with my success, that I am induced to lay my treat- 

 ment — common as it is — ^before your readers, trusting that those particularly 

 interested in apiarian pursuits may at least be induced to make some effort to 

 improve and cultivate them, as they are so very attractive to those indefatigable 

 workers, the bees, and attracted so much attention at our late International 

 Exhibition. I have often sat and watched with intense delight their unwearied 

 labours, as they seemed to vie with each other which should cany the most 

 nectar home to the hive. It is amusing to see four in one cup at one time. 



The S3'stem of raising Crocuses from seed of course requires a little patience, 

 and I do not suppose that even Job, with his stock of it, ever tried it in that way. 

 There is, however, little care needed, as they come of such a hardy race. I find 

 the seed is best sown as soon as possible after it is ripe ; by that system a season 

 is saved, for if delayed long, the seed lies dormant until the second spring fol- 

 lowing. The only care I bestow is to prepare a narrow border alongside of a bed 

 not intended to be disturbed, — say, about 3 in. or 4 in. wide ; to sow the seed 

 moderately thickly, and cover about an inch with sandy soil. On their first 

 appearance, they show only a fine tubular foliage ; in the second season, they 

 assume the well-known foliage of the parent, but small ; while in the third year it 

 is the same, but increased in size. As soon as the foliage assumes signs of decay 

 the third season, it is best to lift them, and replant them at once in some good 

 rich soil, about 2 in. apart. If they have been well grown, they will produce a 

 mass of bloom the spring following, when the best can be marked with labels, 

 and any inferior ones lifted out. 



I do not recommend the raising of Crocuses from seed from a financial point 

 of view, as I never thought it a likely speculation to make a fortune by. I, for 

 one, however, take a lively interest in endeavouring to do anything calculated to 

 leave the world a little better than I found it. To any one, then, who has 

 means at command, and who takes a delight in such things, the experiment may 

 be commended as inexpensive, for by procuring a few bulbs of each of such sorts 

 as Sir Walter Scott, Argus ^ Princess Alexandra, Caroliiie Ckzsholm, Othello, Mary 

 Stuart, and La Majestueuse, he will be furnished at once. Or, to any one wishing 

 to try at once, I will furnish choice seed on receipt of a stamped addressed 

 envelope. The yellow varieties do not produce seed, though it is as well to grow 

 a few amongst the others ; but so far, I have obtained nothing new in yellows. — 

 John Walker, Winton, Manchester. 



ON PROPAGATING THE ALYSSUM. 



^HIS being one of tho things that cannot be dispensed with in the flower 

 garden, it may be useful to show that in cases where a large quantity is 

 required, and, as is too often the case, there is not much accommodation to 

 winter all properly, it may be kept with advantage in a cooler state than is 

 sometimes done, the result being that it will possess greater vigour. Last autumn, 

 having some cuttings in both hot and cold frames, neither of them doing to my 



