78 GLENN y's handbook 



should have been transplanted annually previously to grafting 

 them. 



The species are all desirable. C. pyracantha is an ever- 

 green trailing species, with bunches of fiery berries in winter ; 

 it is one of the best of plants for training against a wall or 

 building. 



CRAWFORDIA. [Gentianaceae.] Beautiful twining 

 half-hardy annuals or perennials (?). Peat and loam. Cuttings 

 or division, 



CRINUM. [Amaryllidaceae.] Beautiful bulbous plants, 

 of which the majority are among the finest stove plants. 

 Strong rich loamy soil, with coarse sand. Increased by off- 

 sets. C. longlflorum should be planted eight or ten inches 

 deep in a moist situation. C. amahlle and C. umhellatum are 

 fine. 



CRISTARIA. [Malvaceae.] A neat hardy herbaceous 

 perennial. Peat soil. Increased by division or by seed. C. 

 coccinea, hardy perennial ; flowers scarlet, in August. 



CROCUS. [Iridaceae.J Beautiful dwarf hardy bulbs, 

 with gi'assy leaves and showy flowers. The Crocus is popularly 

 known as a spiing flower, peeping up almost from amongst 

 the snow. The spring Crocuses come into bloom some time 

 in Februaiy, and continue more or less in bloom until the 

 beginning of April, this succession of bloom being obtained 

 by earlier and later planting, and by placing them in different 

 situations and aspects. No flowers are more easily cul- 

 tivated ; they grow in any ordinary garden soil, and multiply 

 rapidly by offsets. The bulbs, or corras, should be planted 

 in October or November, about two inches below the surface, 

 in rows or patches. They are suitable for edgings to flower- 

 borders, or they may form small beds by themselves ; in either 

 case the bulbs should not be inserted singly, but are far more 

 effective if put in groups of six, twelve, or even more, the 

 groups being proportionately distant. There is another race 

 of Crocuses, the autumn bloomers, comprising some very 

 splendid species, which bloom in the end of October and 

 through November, and are equally useful as ornaments with 

 the spring Crocuses, in consequence of blooming when other 

 flowers are nearly over : many of these, however, are very 

 scarce. They should be planted in June and July, and in 



