DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 175 



common C. aurea^ which has golden yellow flowers, are 

 both pretty plants for rock- work. 



CREPIS. 



[A name made use of by Pliiiy, a plant of which he gives no description.] 



Crepis barMta. — The Pm-ple-eyed Crepis, is an uncom- 

 monly hardy and beautiful annual, of the easiest culture. 

 The flower-stems are prostrate like those of Convolvulus 

 tricolor. Grown in masses and the plants thinned out to 

 eighteen inches distant, it makes a fine appearance. It 

 begins to flower the first of July, and continues till Octo- 

 ber or November, covered with beautiful flowers, the 

 rays of a light-yellowy finely contrasted with the bril- 

 liant purple-brown of the centre. 



- CROCUS. 



[Crocus, an unhappy lover, whom the gods in pity were said to have changed 

 into this flower.] 



" Glad as tlie spring, when tlie first Crocus comes 

 To laugh amid the shower." 



Crocus VerilUS,— The Spring Crocus is a bulbous rooted 

 plant, of whicli there are many varieties annually imported 

 from Holland, and sold at very low prices. The most 

 prominent sorts are the great yellow, deep-blue, light-blue, 

 white with blue stripes, blue with Avhite stripes, white with 

 a purple base, pure white, cloth of gold, etc. It flowers 

 in April, and in w^arm seasons, in sheltered places, fre- 

 quently in March. Where there is a plenty of them, they 

 make a magnificent show. The bulbs are small, solid, and 

 flat. They should be planted in September or October, 

 about one inch or one and one-half inch deep, in any good 



