THE CULTIVATION OF CROCUSES. 



5' 



July. Germination, however, will not take place till the natural growing period of 

 the species. The autumnal species vegetate in the autumn and the vernal species 

 in the spring succeeding the summer or autumn in which they are sown; but some 

 of the seeds lie dormant for one, two, or even three years before they vegetate. 

 Seedlings take from two to three years to arrive at maturity. They should be left 

 for the first two years undisturbed in the seed bed, and then taken up and 

 replanted. The replanting of the old corms every year, or every other year is 

 advantageous; and the clearing of the corms from the superfluous tunics, and 

 the remains of the old decaying corms seems to encourage a vigorous growth. 



Of the autumnal species suitable for the open border the following may be 

 enumerated for successional flowering": — 



C. Scharojani, orange; early in August. 



' vallicola, straw coloured; late in August and early in September. 



" nudiflorus, blue; September. 



" pulchellus, lilac; September and October. 



" speciosus, blue; September and October. 



" iridiflorus, blue; September and October. 



" Salzmanni \ 



" asturicus (lilac or blue; October and November. 



" Clusii ) 



" cancellatus 



" Cambessidesii / 



" sativus ( m the late aulumn ' 



" hadriaticus 



These are succeeded by a long series of late autumnal, winter, and early vernal 

 species, which are best grown to advantage under the protection of a brick pit. 



Of the vernal species suitable for the border, the earliest is C. Imperati, 

 flowering in February, followed by 



C. susianus, or Cloth of Gold, in February. 



" biflorus 



" corsicus 



" etruscus 



" suaveolens 



" versicolor 



" vernus 



" Tommasinianus ]■ Flowering from the end of February to 



" dalmaticus the first week in April 



" banaticus 



" Sieberi and var. versicolor 



" chrysanthus 



" aureus 



" sulphureus 



