398 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
_ GCRISTARIA (from crista, a crest; in reference to the 
carpels having two crest-like rings in the centre of each). 
Orv. Malvacem. A genus of about twenty species of 
generally prostrate, tomentose herbs, all natives of extra- 
tropical South America. Probably there are none in culti- 
yation in this country, although most of the species are 
well worth growing. 
С. coccinea, Se Malvastrum coccineum, 
JJ CRITHMUM (from krithe, Barley; in allusion to the 
‘similarity existing in the seed). Samphire. ORD. Um- 
bellifere. A sufiruticose, glabrous, fleshy herb. Umbels 
compound; involucre and involucels of many leaves. 
Leaves bipinnate; leaflets oblong, linear; petioles sheath- 
ing at the base. Samphire grows best in a warm, dry 
position, near the sea coast. When grown inland, it 
requires a sunny situation, and protection during the 
winter. It may be propagated by divisions, or by seeds; 
the latter should be sown as soon as ripe, as, if kept 
till spring, they are longer in germinating. 
C. maritimum (maritime). 7. white, with yellowish anthers. 
August. Л. lft. Britain. (Sy. En. B. 606.) 
CROCKING. A term applied to the placing of a piece 
of potsherd over the hole at the bottom of a pot. 
CROCOSMIA (from crocus, saffron, and osme, smell; in 
allusion to the very pronounced odour of saffron exhaled 
by the dried flowers of this plant when immersed in warm 
water). ORD. Iridee. A monotypic genus, generally 
known as Tritonia. The species is a very handsome hardy, 
or nearly hardy, bulbous perennial, and thrives best in a 
light, rich, sandy soil. It is often grown in pots for the 
~ greenhouse; but, with a little care, it will be found to 
_ thrive remarkably well in the open. In cold, northerly 
. Situations, the better plan will be to lift the roots in 
_ November, and store in frost-proof quarters until the 
. following spring; but they must not be kept so dry as to 
. eause them to shrivel. Propagated by offsets, or by seeds; 
, the latter should be sown in pans, in a cold house, as 
_ soon as possible after maturity; but where the Crocosmia 
.. does well, the corms increase pretty freely. 
EC 
aurea (zolden)* fl brilliant orange-red, few; perianth with a 
curved uk ' six-parted limb 
» and a nearly г 
ig in а star-like form ; spike terminal, 
оп. i. narrowly sword-shaped, 
е base of the stem for about 
South Africa, 1846. Syn. 
with a walk, are positions, among innumerable 9 
Crocus—continued. 
PROPAGATION. This is effected by seed, for raising new 
varieties; and the increase of the corms perpetuates 
established species and forms. Each year, one, or in some 
cases, several young corms are formed, either on the top 
or by the side of the old one, the latter annually dying 
away. For increasing stock, these may be lifted and re- 
planted singly, allowing sufficient room for each in its turn 
to develop new corms the following year. More would be 
obtained of varieties that increase rapidly, by this method, 
than if they were left crowded together. Some species 
increase very slowly, and these, with many that are scarce _ 
and valuable, are best left undisturbed, so long as they 
grow satisfactorily. 
Seed. The seed of the Crocus should be sown as soon 
as ripe, or early in spring, the choicer strains in pots or 
boxes, using a light sandy soil, and afterwards placing 
them in a cold pit or frame, while the commoner 
varieties may be placed in a warm position outside, in a 
seed-bed. The seed germinates freely, and must be sown 
thinly, so as to allow the plants space to grow for two 
seasons in the seed-pan or bed, without lifting. They will 
need but little attention beyond being occasionally weeded 
and watered. After the second year, when the corms die 
down, they should be shaken out, and replanted. In the 
third or fourth year, most of them will flower, and any 
good ones may then be selected. It is an excellent plam 
to top-dress the seed-beds or pans, after the first sesso 
with an inch or two of rich compost. d 
CULTIVATION. Мапу of the species thrivé : 
work, in soil that has a good proportion of small stones 
intermixed, thereby insuring thorough drainage. If planted 
deeply and permanently in such a position, dwarf- 
growing plants, such as mossy Saxifrages, may be placed 
above, and the Crocuses allowed to grow through, when 
flowering. It is difficult to keep a collection separate and 
distinct, if planted near each other. The corms, by their 
mode of propagation underground, gradually become re- 
moved to a considerable distance from where they were 
first placed; and, if other species are near, the whole soon 
become mixed. The remedy is to lift and replant, OT - 
make a limited inclosure for each with slates, placed on - 
edge in the ground. It is not necessary to lift — 
any other purpose. As soon as the leaves are ripened, ал 
die away, is the best time for lifting, if it is required. 
Sandy loam, with the addition of some leaf вой and £ 
grit or crushed stones, is a good compost;\and it is 
ferable to prepare this and replant at once.” The 
varieties of spring-flowering Crocuses, so much culum? 
will grow and flower freely in almost any soil or posto 
They are very largely imported from Holland, in the алш 
of each year; and the quicker planting is taken in 
after their arrival, the better. The margins of flowers. 
planted with other bulbs, or of borders running rpm 
that may be rendered attractive by a mass of 
coloured Crocuses. The corms can be inserted ! 
regularly in a small trench, about 3in. deep, placing 
a similar distance apart. The leaves should be left 
after flowering is over until they ripen, and the corms 
not be lifted unless the place is required for oth 
in summer. In this case, they may be 
allowed to ripen elsewhere. diui 
Cultivation im Pots, Spring Crocuses are useful 82 
very-ornamental when flowering in pots. The 
roots may be bought cheaply in autumn, and their 077: 
tion is within the reach of all. Place five or віх 90 ig 
a Šin. pot, or four in a smaller one, and bury them should 
outside for a time until filled with roots, when they * E 
be very gradually brought on in a cool pit or hous ү 
Crocus will not flower if exposed to fire heat, BF sion, 
severe forcing be attempted. If placed in a light 
with a little higher temperature than that 0081 
We pom 
