CROCUS 



THE BULB BOOK 



CROCUS 



special attention is paid to tliem. 

 The numerous varieties of garden 

 Crocus have all been derived from 

 C. vej-nus, and most people are satis- 

 fied with the gorgeous display made 

 by these in the early spring. There 

 are, however, many other species 

 worth cultivating, and as they are 



Fig. 105.— Crocus, showing A, flower; 

 B, long style and stigmas ; C, stamen ; 

 D, section of leaf ; E, section of ovary. 



mostly hardy, may be grown in 

 the open air in the same way as 

 the varieties of C. vernus. The fact 

 that many of them flower in autumn 

 instead of in the spring, is another 

 reason why they should be more 

 generally known, as these later 



species prolong the flowering period 

 of the Crocuses proper from Septem- 

 ber till the following March and April. 

 In the depth of winter the more 

 tender kinds may be cultivated in 

 pots or pans, and by placing them in 

 the genial warmth of a greenhouse 

 or conservatory, or even protected in 

 a cold frame, they will brighten the 

 dull days with their colour. To 

 give some idea of the wealth of the 

 genus Crocus, they may be con- 

 veniently divided into two groups, 

 (1) Spring-flowering and (2) Autumn- 

 flowering, as follows : — 



I. — SpEING -FLOWERING CeOCUSES. 



The species mentioned above may 

 be planted in the open air from 

 August to the end of October. The 

 corms should be planted from 3 to 

 5 ins. deep, and about the same 

 distance apart, and in hundreds or 

 thousands instead of half-dozens— 

 except, of course, in the case of very 

 rare species. These would be safer 

 grown in pots or pans, or in sheltered 



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