THE CROCUS. 41 



beautiful bulbs in the open air, merely protecting the 

 roots in the winter in the same manner as those of the 

 Dahlia. 



THE CROCUS, (Crocus.) 



THE Crocus is divided into two classes : the first, those 

 that flower in early spring, too well known to need de- 

 scription ; the second, the autumnal flowering, or naked 

 Crocus, so called because the flowers are produced in the 

 absence of leaves, which, with the seeds, are thrown up 

 in the spring. 



The spring Crocus is of the easiest culture, and we 

 need only remark, that it is a mistake to put them into 

 poor ground, since no plants in our gardens delight more 

 in, or make greater returns for, rich soil. They require 

 a dry situation, and in such a place and soil they flower 

 profusely. The bulbs or corms should be planted at least 

 three inches deep ; for, as the new corm forms above the 

 old one, they will in three or four years push themselves 

 out of the ground if planted too near the surface. As 

 often as once in three years the corms should be taken 

 up, separated, and planted out as quickly as possible; 

 the longer they are left out of ground the weaker they 

 become, and the later they will come into bloom. 



In starting a new bed, the corms should be planted as 

 soon as they can be obtained, which is usually about the 

 first of September. If left until November, as is the 

 too common practice, very few will flower strongly the 

 coming season, and none satisfactorily. When left in the 

 ground they commence new life about the first of Sep- 

 tember, and before winter they have their preparations 

 for spring work complete ; the flower buds will be nearly 



