5° 



CHAPTER V. 



THE CULTIVATION OF CROCUSES. 



•CULTURAL directions for a genus so easily grown seem almost superfluous; 

 \J but there are a few points to which it may be convenient to refer in dealing 

 with Croci as decorative plants. Taking the whole genus of about seventy species 

 they must be viewed as in continuous succession, from the beginning of August 

 till April. Of these it is only the earlier autumnal, or the distinctly vernal species 

 that can be relied upon in our climate for open-air garden decoration. Although 

 all are hardy, and most of the winter flowering species will flower in the open 

 ground, those that flower in November, December, and January are so hable to 

 fnjury by frost and rain, that they are practically worthless as decorative plants for 



the open garden. . , 



For such, as well as for the less robust and less floriferous species, the pro- 

 tection of a brick pit is necessary. The bottom of the pit should be well below 

 the level of the ground, and it should be filled up with about one foot in depth 

 of fine river silt or sandy loam, the surface of which should be a little below the 

 level of the surface of the adjacent ground. Proper drainage is essential; but 

 this being attained, Crocuses during their period of growth delight in a uniformly 

 moist subsoil. Crocus reruns in the Alps is more vigorous in hollow, moist places 

 .than on the projecting dryer ground. It is convenient to separate each species by 

 strips of slate or tiles, which may be buried below the surface, and the corms planted 

 about three or four inches deep. A mulching of rotted Cocoa-nut fibre or finely 

 sifted peat keeps the surface uniformly moist, and prevents the substratum of loam 

 from clogging or caking on the surface. At the time of maturity of the foliage 

 which generally takes place about the end of May, water should be withheld, and 

 the Crocus bed should be covered up and allowed to get quite dry, till the end of 

 July, when a copious watering may be given, or the pit exposed to natural rainfall. 

 Crocuses are easilv multiplied from seed, which should be sown as soon as npe in 



