106 



THE CROCUS. 



effectually. I afterwards cleanse them by syringing with clear cold 

 Mater. By adopting the above practice I have successfully competed 

 at the Horticultural Exhibitions in this neighbourhood. 



The following is a select list of those varieties I have exhibited, and 

 which I recommend for the above purpose : — 



For Single Blooms. 



French Gallica : — 

 Boula de Nanteuil. 

 Gloire de Colmar. 

 Kean. 

 Shakespeare. 



Bourbon : — 



Captain Sisolet. 

 Coupe d'Hebe. 

 Great Western. 

 Henri Barbet. 



For Trusses. 



Hybrid Perpetual : — 

 Geantides Batailles. 

 Baronne Prevost. 

 Duchess of Sutherland. 

 Madame Laffay. 

 La Reine. 



Bengal Roses : — 

 Mrs. Bosanquet. 

 Carmin de Yebles. 



Hybrid China : — 



Triomphe de Laquene. 



Noisette : — 



Jaime Desprez. 

 Solfaterre. 



Hybrid China : — 



Brennus. 



Duke of Devonshire. 



Triomphe d'Angers. 



William Jesse. 



Duke of Sussex. 



The French Gallica Roses are splendid varieties to exhibit for single 

 blooms, but they require superior cultivation to bring them to perfec- 

 tion. The flowers are remarkable for their rich and brilliant varied 

 hues. The Hybrid Noisettes are indispensable on account of the large 

 trusses they produce. 



Belgic Rose : — 



Etoil de la Malmaison. 



THE CROCUS. 



BY ORION. 



The improvement which has been going on so rapid of late years in 

 what are termed " Florists' flowers " has also been going on slowly, 

 though surely, in the more humble class of flowers, in which the 

 Crocus, " the sweet harbinger of spring," takes its rank. For the 

 numerous fine varieties our gardens are now adorned witli we are in- 

 debted to the Dutch, whose soil is so -much more suitable for most 

 bulbs than our own ; and it is to be feared that though much has 

 been done by them, yet this flower does not present sufficient attrac- 

 tions to render it a worthy subject for the English hybridizer. Within 

 the last few years, however, there has appeared a new race, with large 

 and bold formed flowers, which ere long will drive out the pale and 

 irregular formed straggling things we have so long been satisfied to 

 crow as Crocuses. As the past flowering season has been of unex- 

 ampled duration, a few notes of the best varieties may perhaps induce 

 some of your readers to improve their hitherto small and little varied 

 collection. 



