Crocus Crown Imperial Cyclamen 



employ distinct colours, reserving the yellow for the exterior parts of 

 the design to define its boundaries, and using the blue and the white 

 in masses and bands within. In districts where sparrows attack the 

 flowers, they may be deterred from doing mischief by stretching over 

 the beds a few strands of black thread, which will not interfere with 

 the beauty ^of the display, and will terrify the sparrows for a sufficient 

 period to save the flowers. 



The named varieties are invaluable for pot and frame culture, and 

 to force for decorative purposes ; for though the individual flowers 

 are short-lived, the finest bulbs yield a long succession of bloom, and 

 in character Crocuses are quite distinct from all other flowers of the 

 same early season. When grown in pots and baskets, the bulbs 

 should be placed close together to produce a striking effect. A 

 light, rich soil is desirable, but they may be flowered in a satisfactory 

 manner in a mixture of charcoal and moss, or in cocoa-nut fibre, or 

 moss alone. When required in quantity for ornamental baskets and 

 other decorative purposes, it is wise to plant them in shallow boxes 

 filled with rotten manure and leaf-mould, and to lift them out 

 separately, and pack them when in flower in the ornamental baskets. 

 A perfect display of flowers in precisely the same stage of develop- 

 ment may thus be secured, and successional displays may follow as 

 long as suitable materials remain in the boxes. 



CROWN IMPERIAL 



A NOBLE plant which needs a deep, rich, moist soil, and an open 

 situation, to insure the full degree of stateliness, but it will make a 

 very good figure in any border where it can enjoy a glimmer of sun- 

 shine. There are several distinct varieties, the flowers of which 

 range in colour from palest yellow to the deepest shade of orange 

 and reddish buff, and there is one which has variegated leaves. 



CYCLAMEN 



ALTHOUGH it is advisable to raise Cyclamens from seed every year, 

 occasions arise when it is necessary to store the bulbs for a second 

 season, and the best method of treating them during the period of 

 rest must be considered. As the production of seed weakens the 

 corms, preference should be given to those which have not been 

 subjected to this tax on their energies. 



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