CROCUS. 113 



as a thing reported at Saffron Waklen*. Mr. Martyn, 

 after referring to this volume, says he has been informed 

 that the corporation of Walden bear three Saffron plants 

 in their arms. 



The Spring Crocus is common in many parts of Europe : 

 there are many varieties ; and as this kind furnishes the 

 florists with seed, new varieties continually occur. The 

 most usual are the Common Yellow, the Great Yellow, 

 Deep Blue, Light Blue, White with Blue Stripes, Blue 

 with White Stripes, White with a Purple Base, and 

 Cream-coloured, — ail natives of Britain : as also several 

 from Scotland ; the Black and White Striped, the Cloth 

 of Gold, &c. 



The Spring Crocus flowers in March ; and where there 

 are plenty of them, they make a magnificent show. If 

 the season be mild, the flowers will sometimes appear in 

 February, before the leaves have grown to any length. 

 The leaves must not be cut off* before they decay, or the 

 root will be deprived of nourishment, and will not pro- 

 duce handsome flowers the next year. About the end of 

 May, when the leaves and fibres have decayed, the roots 

 may be taken up, wiped clean from earth, husk, &c. and 

 placed in a dry room till September, when they should be 

 replanted. Care must be taken to preserve them from 

 mice, and other fond enemies : mice will utterly destroy 

 them if they can get at them. The bulb should be planted 

 with the bud uppermost, and the earth an inch deep 



* This, however, is probably only a version of the history of the 

 introduction of silk into Europe : two monks having brought from 

 China, in the hollow of their walking-canes, the eggs of the silk- worm, 

 which were hatched at Constantinople under the empress's own eye ; 

 who had, during the two years' absence of the monks, caused some 

 mulberry trees to be got ready for the food of the young family. 



I 



