152 



The hardy soils produce a fine effect in the fronts of borders or 

 clumps in pleasure-grounds, and those of the tender kinds among 

 other potted plants in the green-house. 



The proper period of removing these plants for any purpose is 

 about the beginning of June, when the leaves decline; but they 

 should not be often removed, as the roots do not lose their fibres as 

 in some others of the tuberous and bulbous rooted kinds. 



£. CROCUS VERNUS. 



SPRING CROCUS. 



This genus comprehends plants of the low-flowering ornamental 

 bulbous-rooted perennial kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Triandria Monogynia, and ranks 

 in the natural order of Ensata. 



The characters are: that the calyx is a one-leafed spathe : the 

 corolla a simple, long tube: border six-parted, erect: divisions ovate- 

 oblong, equal: the stamina consist of three subulate filaments, 

 shorter than the corolla: anthers sagittate: the pislillum is an infe- 

 rior, roundish germ : style filiform, length of the stamens: stigmas 

 three, convolute, serrate : the pericarpium is a roundish capsule, 

 three-lobed, three-celled, three-valved: the seeds several, and round: 

 the corollets six-parted, equal: stigmas convolute. 



The species are : 1. C. officinalis. Autumnal or Common Oflficinal 

 Crocus; 2. C. vtrnus. Spring Crocus. 



The first has a roundish bulbous root, as large as a small Nutmeg, 

 a little compressed at the bottom, and covered with a coarse, brown, 

 netted skin; from the bottom of the bulb many long fibres are sent 

 out, which strike pretty deep into the ground; the flowers come out 

 at the upper part of the root, which, with the young leaves, whose 

 tops just appear, are closely wrapped about by a thin spatha or 

 sheath, which parts Avithin the ground, and opens on one side: the 



