CRESS-ROCKEj 



French, to call the plant Bidsson 

 ardent, or the Burning Bush. 



All the species of Crataegus will 

 grow well in anj' soil that is naturally 

 dry ; tut if planted in marshy ground, 

 they will be stunted in their growth, 

 and their leaves and fruit will become 

 spotted and unhealthy. The common 

 Hawthorn is propagated by seeds, 

 which often lie two years in the 

 ground before they germinate, if not 

 prepared before so-ning by being 

 suffered to lie for several months in 

 what is called a rot-heap ; and which 

 is often turned over during that time, 

 to prevent the seeds from having 

 their vital powers destroyed by the 

 heat generated by fermentation. The 

 finer kinds of thorns are generally 

 grafted or budded on seedlings of the 

 common Hawthorn. 



Crawfurdia. — Gentianioi. — A 

 very elegant climbing annual with 

 blue flowers. It is a native of 

 Nepaul, and requires a gi'eenhouse 

 in this country. 



Creeping Ce'reus. — Cereusjla- 

 yellifovirm. — A succulent plant with 

 long, round, pendent stems, beautiful 

 pink flov»-ers, and dark, piu-ple,eatable 

 fruit. For the culture, &c., see 

 Ce'reus. 



Cre'pis. — Compositce. — Annual, 

 biennial, and perennial plants, natives 

 of Europe, of easy culture in any 

 common soil. The two kinds most 

 common in gardens are, however, 

 now removed to other genera : C. 

 larbata, the yellow Hawkweed, being 

 now made Tolpis harhata, and Cre- 

 pis rubra, the red Hawkweed, being 

 now called Borhausia rubra. The 

 first kind only requires sowing in the 

 open ground with the other annuals 

 in March or April, and may be trans- 

 planted if necessary ; the second is 

 also quite hardy, but it should be 

 sown where it is to remain, as it 

 dues not well bear transplanting. 



Cress-Rocket. — See Ve'lla. 



Cri'nuji. — AmarylUdacece. — 

 Stove bulbous, showy, lily-like plants, 

 with very long leaves and large white 

 flowers, which in some species are 

 fragrant. The plants should be grown 

 in rich loam, mixed with a little peat 

 and sand, and allowed plenty of pot- 

 room. They are increased by suckers, 

 which are produced veiy sparingly. 

 Several of the plants which are called 

 by some botanists Crinum, are called 

 by others Pancratium or Amaryllis. 



C Ro' cu s. — Iridacece. — There are 

 nearly a hundred named kinds of 

 Crocus, including hybrids and va- 

 rieties ; but there are only about 

 thirty distinct species. All the kinds 

 have bulb-tubers or corms, and they 

 should not be taken out of the 

 ground oftener than once in three 

 years, being replanted as soon as 

 possible. The commonest kinds are 

 C. vernus, of which there are many 

 varieties, all, however, having in them 

 some shade of lil ac mixed with white ; 

 C. versicolor, to wliich division 

 belong the beautifully - feathered 

 kinds of jDurple ; C. bijldrus, the 

 Scotch Crocus, striped white and 

 purple, and generally the first to 

 flower in spring ; C. susianus, the 

 Cloth of Gold, striped orange and 

 very dark pui'ple ; C. sulpliureus, 

 very pale yellow, or cream-coloured ; 

 and C. luleus, the common yellow. 

 Besides these, there is C. satlvus, the 

 autumn-flowering Ci'ocus, or saffron, 

 which is cultivated, on a large scale, 

 in some parts of England, particularly 

 near Saffron Waldeu, in Essex, for 

 the stigmas of its flowers, which, 

 wben dried, become saffron, and are 

 used in dyeing. There are also large 

 plantations of saffron in France ; but 

 in that country the bulb is frequently 

 attacked by a fungus which the French 

 call mort de safran, which makes it 

 wither up and perish. All the kinds 

 of spring Crocuses should be gi'own 

 in light sandy loam well drained, and 



