CROCUS. 69 
The corms should be planted, at least, three inches deep, 
for as the new corms form above or beyond the old ones, 
they will, in a few years, push themselves out of the 
ground if planted too near the surface. The corms may 
remain where planted for three or four years, without 
removal, or as long as they continue to flower well. 
When a change becomes necessary, take up and replant 
the same day if possible, and do it as soon as conyenient 
after the foliage has dried up. 
One of the peculiarities of Crocuses is, that when 
they are in flower the seed-vessel is still under ground, 
almost close to the corm; and it is not till some weeks 
after the flower has decayed that it emerges, on a white 
peduncle, and ripens its seeds above the ground. Cro- 
cuses should not be planted in a shaded situation, as 
they require full sunlight to mature their foliage, upon 
which their next season’s flowering depends. In plant- 
ing them, there are two important considerations; the 
first is situation. Shade must ever be avoided, for with- 
out sunshine the Crocus is without a home. Select 
some warm cozy corner, where the sun delights to linger, 
and there plant the corms. The next consideration is 
selection, and that is, in a large measure, a matter of 
taste. The quality of the corms, however, is very im- 
portant, and should, in all cases,.be of the best. We 
always advise the planting of named varieties; not that 
a plant is any better for its having a name, but for 
the fact that small-sized inferior bulbs are put into the 
mixtures, while the best bulbs are sold under names. And 
it is as well to remark here that the Dutch bulb-growers 
do not grow anything in mixture; everything is under 
name, and mixtures are of surplus stock and second 
quality of bulbs. Color, and arrangement in planting, 
is a matter of choice. Having determined upon that, 
select the best bulbs to secure your object. A few of 
the best are: 
