396 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Crickets continued. 



do not undergo a complete metamorphosis. The female 

 beara an ovipositor, composed of four narrow elastic 

 blades. By means of this, she is enabled to deposit her 

 eggs in the ground, or elsewhere, in the most suitable 

 places. The larva, when hatched, differ very little in 

 general appearance from the perfect insect ; indeed, they 

 are perfectly formed, except in having no trace of wings. 

 This fact explains how it is that we find, associated 

 together, individuals differing much in size, and but 

 slightly in appearance. The Field Cricket differs from 

 the House Cricket in being somewhat larger, stouter, 

 and darker. It lives in fields or banks, in burrows of 

 considerable depth. If troublesome, it may be caught 

 by pushing a straw into the burrow ; the insect usually 

 seizes the intruding body, and may be dragged out by 

 it. To garden plants, the Mole Cricket is far more 

 hurtful than the other kinds. Crickets can be destroyed 

 by the methods mentioned for Cockroaches. For eradi- 

 cating both these insects, various preparations are sold. 

 Where poisons would be objectionable, fresh Rhubarb 

 leaves, or oatmeal and salt, will be found useful, as will 

 also Carbolic Acid, poured into their holes. 



CRINITA. A synonym of Pavetta (which see). 

 CRINODENDRON. See Tricuspidaria. 

 CRINONIA. A synonym of Fholidota (which see). 

 CRINUM (from Krinon, the Greek name for Lily). 

 OBD. Amaryllidea:. A large genus of very handsome 

 bulbous plants. Perianth funnel-shaped, half six-cleft, 

 with a long, slender tube, and a six-parted limb of nearly 

 equal segments, which are erect, spreading, or reflexed. 



PBOPAGATION may be effected by seed, or by offsets. The 

 former are of considerable size, and should be sown singly, 

 as Boon as ripe, in 3in. or 4in. pots, the roots, when formed, 

 being BO large and succulent. Sow in sandy loam and leaf 

 mould, place in a temperature of from 70deg. to SOdeg., 

 and keep rather dry until the plants appear, when more 

 moisture should be applied. As most of the species are 

 partially or entirely evergreen, young plants may be grown 

 on all the season, without much drying off. With plenty 

 of heat and moisture, rapid growth is insured when once 

 they are well started, some soon attaining sizes large 

 enough for flowering. Some species produce offsets pretty 

 freely, while others are very shy in this respect. Where 

 they can be obtained, a great saving of time is effected, 

 as large plants are formed much quicker than by seed. 

 They should be removed when rather small, on account 

 of injury to the roots, and as many roots as possible 

 must be preserved. The young plants should be potted 

 separately, and grown on as recommended for seedlings. 

 Crinums require copious supplies of water at all times 

 when in growth; even young specimens will bear much 

 more than the majority of other bulbs. Being distributed 

 over rather a wide area of tropical and sub-tropical coun- 

 tries, they are of different degrees of hardiness. Some 

 require a high temperature, and a moist position in the 

 stove ; others succeed in a greenhouse ; and a few are suffi- 

 ciently hardy to thrive in a sheltered position outside, 

 with protection in winter. 



CULTIVATION. The stove and greenhouse species culti- 

 vated indoors require large pots or tubs in most cases, 

 as the roots are numerous and fleshy. Those of from 1ft. 

 to 2ft. in diameter will be necessary for flowering bulbs ; 

 and, if a suitable compost be used and ample drainage 

 provided, the plants may be shifted into these from 

 much smaller pots without any fear of injury being en- 

 tertained. It will not be necessary to repot Crinums 

 annually when they reach such a size, if plenty of water 

 is supplied, and a top-dressing of good soil be given when 

 growth commences, in spring. This is also the best season 

 for potting any that require it. Turfy loam, with some 

 fibry peat and charcoal, all broken and used as lumpy as 

 possible, form a good and lasting compost. After potting 

 nr top-dressing in spring, Crinums should be started into 



Crinuni continued. 



growth by being placed in stove heat, or in a somewhat 

 cooler, but at the same time close, temperature, according 

 to the requirements of individual species. Frequent 

 syringings should be given, and some liquid manure may 

 occasionally be applied to established plants. The flowers 

 are all very beautiful, and are produced at various times 

 throughout the summer, but more particularly towards 

 the autumn. After flowering, water should b partially 

 withheld for the winter or resting period, and the plants 

 fully exposed to the sun. Crinums are seldom much 

 injured by sunshine, but a slight shading is preferable 

 in summer, when some of the leaves are young and 

 tender. 



Outdoor Culturt. A rich soil, in a sheltered south 

 border, with plenty of drainage provided, is requisite for 

 success with Crinums in the open air. Deep planting is 

 recommended if they are to remain all the winter, in order 

 that the bulbs may be out of the reach of frost. They 

 should be of a good size before planting out. The best 

 season is the end of May, as time is then afforded for the 

 plants to flower and the roots to become established before 

 winter. They must be kept clean, and watered when 

 necessary. On the appearance of frost, the necks of the 

 bulbs should be protected with haybands or fern; and 

 when the leaves die away, the whole may be covered with 

 cocoa-nut fibre. Where safety cannot thus be insured, on 

 account of locality, it is best to lift and store the bulbs 

 for the winter in a cool house or shed, and plant out again 

 the following May. A stake must be placed to the flower- 

 scape, when it appears, to prevent injury from rough wind. 

 0. Moorei is one of the most beautiful species for green- 

 house or outdoor cultivation, and is, moreover, almost 

 certain to flower annually after the bulbs are strong 

 enough. C. asiaticum, 0. capense, and C. Macowani, 

 amongst others, will also succeed in suitable positions 

 outside. 



C. amablle (lovely).* fl, twenty to thirty in an umbel, very fra- 

 grant ; perianth tube bright red, cylindrical, Sin. to 4in. long ; 

 segments same length, spreading or revolute ; scape 2ft. to 3ft. 

 long, ancipitous. Summer. I. 3ft. to 4ft. long, Sin. to 4in. broad, 

 lorate, tapering gradually to a point. Bulb small ; neck about 1ft. 

 long. Sumatra, 1810. Stove. (B. M. 1604.) 



C. amerieannm (American), fl. three to six in an umbel, very 

 fragrant ; perianth tube 4in. to 5in. long ; segments lanceolate, 

 Sin. to 4in. long, white on the back ; peduncle 14ft. to 2ft. long. 

 Summer. 1. six to ten, arcuate, lorate, 2ft. to 3ft. long, liin. to 

 2in. broad. Bulb ovoid ; neck short. South United States, 1752. 

 Stove. (B. M. 1034.) 



C. amcennm (pleasing), fl. six to twelve in an umbel ; perianth 

 tube greenish, Sin. to Sin. long ; segments spreading, lanceolate, 

 2in. to Sin. long, pure white ; scape 1ft. to 2ft. long. Summer. 

 I. rosulate, linear, sub-erect, lift, to 2ft. long, lin. to 2in. broad. 

 Bulb globose, 2in. to 3in. in diameter. India, 1807. Stove. 

 C. angnstifolium (narrow-leaved), fl. five to six in an umbel ; 

 perianth tube Sin. to 4in. long ; segments lanceolate, 2iin. long, 

 and Jin. broad at the middle ; scape about 1ft. long. Summer. 

 I. linear, lift, to 2ft. long, lin. to Ufa. broad. Bulb sub-globose ; 

 neck very short. North Australia, 1824. Greenhouse. SYN. 

 C. arenarium. (B. M. 2S55.) There are two or three forms of this 

 species. 



C. aquaticum (aquatic). A synonym of C. campanulatum. 

 C. arenarium (sand-loving). A synonym of C. anguetifolium. 

 C. asiaticum (Asiatic).* Asiatic Poison Bulb. fl. about twenty 

 in an umbel ; perianth tube slender, cylindrical, Sin. to 4in. long, 

 tinged with green ; segments white, linear, 24in. to Sin. long ; 

 peduncle ancipitous, lift, to 2ft. long. Bulb 4in. to 5in. in 

 diameter; neck 6in. to 9in. long. Tropical Asia, 1732. Green- 

 house. (B. M. 1073.) C. anomatum, C. declinatum (B. M. 2231), 

 C. plicatum(B. M. 2908), C.procerum (B. M. 2684), and C. tinicum, 

 are mere forms of this species. 



C. augustum (august), fl. twelve to twenty in an umbel; 

 perianth Sin. to 4in. long, tinged with red ; scape lateral, 2ft. to 

 3ft. long, compressed. April. I. twenty to thirty, lorate, 2ft. to 

 3ft. long, Sin. to 4in. broad. Bulb ovoid, nearly 1ft. high and 6in. 

 in diameter. Mauritius, 1818. Stove. One of the most effective 

 species of the genus. (B. M. 2397.) 



C. australe (Southern). A synonym of C. pedunculatum. 

 C. Balfourii (Balf cur's). * fl. ten to twelve in an umbel, very 

 fragrant ; perianth tube greenish, 2in. long ; segments pure white, 

 oblanceolate, 2in. long, Ain. broad at the middle ; peduncle 

 axillary, compressed, Ijft. long. October. I. ten to twelve, lorate, 

 spreading, about 1ft. long. Bulb Sin. in diameter ; neck short. 

 Socotra.1880. Stove. (B. M. 6570.) 



