C R O 



C R O 



ed by seeds somewhat like those of Fennel, but 

 larger. It is used as pickle, and much estecniej 

 for its agreeable flavour. It is a native of the 

 rocky shores of Europe. 



Culture. — This plant, from its being a native 

 of the sea-coasts, is raised in the garden with 

 some difiicully. In order to its successful cul- 

 ture, it should have a rather moist, sandy, or 

 gravelly situation, and be duly supplied with 

 moisture. 



It may be propagated, either by sowing the 

 seeds in the places where the plants are to re- 

 main, in the early spring months, to the depth 

 of about half an inch, or by parting the roots, 

 and planting them out where they are to remain, 

 ill the beginning of autumn. 



When the plants have been introduced in 

 either of these methods, they will continue for 

 a number of years. 



The leaves constitute an admirable pickle, and 

 are sometimes used in sallad.s, as well as for other 

 culinary purposes. 



CROCUS, a genus comprehending plants of 

 the low-flosvering ornamental bulbous-rooted 

 pcreimial kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Trianclria 

 ]\luriogynia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 E?isatcB. 



The characters are : that the calyx is a one- 

 leafed spathe : the corolla a simple, long tube : 

 border six-parted, erect : divisions ovate-oblong, 

 equal : the stamina consist of three subulate fila- 

 ments, shorter than the corolla : anthers sagit- 

 tate: the pistillum is an inferior, romulish 

 germ: style filiform, length of the stamens: 

 stigmas three, convolute, serrate : the pericar- 

 pium is a roundish capsule, three-lobed, three- 

 celled, three-valved : the seeds several, and 

 round: the corollets six-parted, equal: stigmas 

 convolute. 



The species are : 1 . C. officinalis, Autumnal 

 or Common Officinal Crocus ; 2. C. vermis, 

 Spring Crocus. 



The first has a roundish bulbous root, as large 

 as a small Nutmeg, a little compressed at the 

 bottom, and covered with a coarse, brown, net- 

 ted bkin ; from the bottom of the bulb many 

 long fibres are sent out, which strike pretty deep 

 into the ground ; the flowers come out at the 

 upper part of the root, which, with the young 

 leaves, whose tops just appear, are closely wrap- 

 ped about by a thin spatha or sheath, which 

 parts within the ground, and opens on one side: 

 the tube of the flower is very long, arising im- 

 mediately from the bulb, without any foot-stalk, 

 and at the top is divided into six ovate obtuse 

 segments, which are equal, and of a purple blue 

 colour. In the bottom of the tube is situated a 

 roundish germ, supporting a slender style, which 



is not more than half the length of the p^tal, 

 crowned vi'ith three oblong golden stigmas, 

 spreading asunder each way, which is the Saf- 

 fron. It flowers in October, and the leaves con- 

 tinue growing all winter; but it never produces 

 seeds in this climate. It is supposed bv Martyn 

 to be a native of Asia. 



The chief varieties are : the Sweet-smelling 

 with a smaller, and more compressed root, 

 having a deep blue colour, but varying to a 

 sky-blue : the Mountain, which has a flower 

 of a paler blue colour; the Many-flowering 

 blueish, with niniierous sky-blue flowers; and 

 the Small-flowering, having a small deep blue 

 flower. 



The second species has a pretty large compres- 

 sed bulb, covered with a light brown, netted skin, 

 from which arise four or five leaves of a purplish 

 colour on their lower parts : from among these 

 comeout one or two flowers, sitting close between 

 the young leaves, never rising above two inches 

 high, and having an agreeable odour. From the 

 centre of the tube a slender stvle proceeds, which 

 is crowned by a broad flat stigma of a golden 

 colour. After the flower is past, the germ pushes 

 out of the ground. In the wild state, it is most 

 commonly white, with a purple base. It is a 

 native of Italy, &c. 



The chief varieties are: the broad-leaved 

 purple variegated, which has a flower of a deep 

 blue colour, and striped; the broad-leaved plain 

 purple ; the broad-leaved violet-coloured, or 

 large deep blue ; the white with a purple bottom ; 

 the broad-leaved white variegated; the broad- 

 leaved with many violet-purple flowers striped 

 with white; the broad-leaved ash-coloured; 

 the broad-leaved large vellow; the broad-leav- 

 ed small pale yellow ; the broad-leaved small 

 yellow striped with black; the narrow-leav- 

 ed small brimstone; and the uarrow-leavcd small 

 white. 



In modern catalogues, many other varieties 

 of different colours are introduced, as blue and 

 purple, yellow and white, or striped. New ones 

 are also continually imported from Holland. The 

 usual varieties at present in gardens are : the beau- 

 tifully striped Scotch; the blue; the blue striped; 

 the white; theyellowof several shades, larger and 

 smaller ; the yellow striped with black ; the cloth 

 of gold, &,c. 



Culture. — The culture in both these sorts is 

 easily efl^ected, by planting the bulbs or off"-sets 

 taken from the roots ; the first sort in July, or 

 the beginning of the following month, and the 

 latter any time when the weather is open, from 

 September to the beginning of April in the fol- 

 lowing year ; but the more early it is performed, 

 the stronger they flower ; by means of a dibble 

 or trowel, to the depth of about two inches. 



