266 IRIDE.^. 



the size and strength of the bulbs. For the ordinary purposes of 

 decoration above alluded to, the common varieties in white, 

 purple, and yellow, and in various shades and combinations of 

 these, are the best, being cheap and easily procurable from seeds- 

 men and bulb-dealers in quantity, either in separate colours or in 

 mixture. No further enumeration of these is thought necessary 

 here, but a few of the forms usually regarded as species in 

 gardens are described below ; but it may be remarked that the 

 characters on which the species are founded are inconstant or 

 variable, or of a trivial nature, and that there is a good deal of 

 confusion, and many bad species created on very slight char- 

 acters, appreciable only to those who have paid years of atten- 

 tion to them in cultivation. It is worthy of being mentioned 

 that Crocuses generally are very variable, as are also nearly all 

 the genera of this order, from seed ; and those whose inclination 

 lies that way, may increase their varieties to almost any extent 

 by saving and sowing the seed from the ordinary varieties in cul- 

 tivation. The seed may be sown as soon as ripe, as it is apt to 

 lose vitality quickly if dry-stored for any length of time. Sow in 

 the open ground on an east or west border behind a wall or 

 hedge, making the earth moderately rich with well-decayed man- 

 ure or leaf-mould, and pulverise it well. They mil not be fit to 

 handle till the second autumn after sowing, but it will be well 

 to lift them then and replant them, either in new ground or in 

 the same place after it has been well dug and manured in the 

 moderate degree already alluded to. They will flower very 

 sparingly, perhaps, the third spring from sowing, but very gene- 

 rally the fourth spring. It is a fact worth knowing, because 

 curious in itself, and appreciable by any one, that the seed- 

 vessel in Crocus is at first nearly stalkless, and close to the bulb 

 underground ; but after flowering the stalk elongates, and ulti- 

 mately supports the seed-vessel at a greater or less height above 

 ground. 



C. biflorus {Scotch C.) — This is a Avhite-flowered sort, the 

 flowers being striped externally with purple, and the throat or 

 tube internally is yellow, and destitute of hairs. The leaves 

 are long, very narrow, and sharply-pointed. . The flowers 

 appear in February and March. Native of the Crimea. 



C. Imperati (Ea7'/y C.) — This is perhaps the earliest-bloom- 

 ing sort in cultivation, opening often in the first month of the 

 year if the weather is mild. The flowers are lilac, marked with 

 lines of deeper purple externally, and the throat is yellow and 

 hairless. Native of Italy. 



C. lacteus {Milk-zuhite C.) — This sort has cream-coloured 

 flowers and lemon-coloured anthers and stigmas. The petals 



