ON CROCUSES 131 



by larger plants, or dug out in general gardening opera- 

 tions. They are both safer and under more complete 

 control in the rock garden than in the mixed border. 

 At the same time the exquisite flowers show up to greater 

 advantage. The species can hardly be compared with 

 the Dutch varieties as garden plants, although equally 

 hardy. It will be conceded that a clump of perhaps half 

 a dozen plants is much more likely to escape observa- 

 tion than a whole row. However, in the absence of a 

 rockery, an amateur who is interested in Crocuses may 

 grow a few specimens in the front of a bed or border, 

 and with a little special care will succeed with them. 



In the hope that some gardener has sufficient interest 

 in Crocuses to grow a few species, I give a brief descrip- 

 tion of the best of those which I have grown myself, 

 classifying them into two sections autumn and spring, 

 although some of the latter really flower in winter. 



Autumn-blooming Crocuses. One of the prettiest of this 

 class is Boryij which has white flowers. Hadriaticus is 

 another beautiful white species. Iridiflorus (Iris-flowered) 

 is one of the most exquisitely lovely of bulbous flowers. 

 When expanded it is nearly two inches across, and of a 

 rich blue colour. I found this to be a gem for pot 

 culture, and a charming ornament for the front of the 

 greenhouse stage. There is a large variety of it called 

 major. Longiflorus, purple and lilac, is not only very 

 pretty, but is also sweet-scented ; there are several varie- 

 ties of it. Nudiflorus } purple, is also good. Ochroleucus, 

 yellow and white, is well worthy of pot culture. Sativus, 

 as we have seen, yields the saffron of commerce, which 

 the old writers dowered with many virtues. Note 

 Gerard: "The moderate use of it is good for the head, 

 and maketh sences more quicke and liuely, shaketh off 

 heauie and drowsie sleepe and maketh a man merrie." 



