FLORA DOMESTICA. 



with White Stripes, White with a Purple Base, and 

 Cream-coloured, all natives of Britain : as also several 

 from Scotland ; the Black and White Striped, the Cloth 

 of Gold, &c. 



The Spring Crocus flowers in March ; and where there 

 are plenty of them, they make a magnificent show. If 

 the season be mild, the flowers will sometimes appear in 

 February, before the leaves have grown to any length. 

 The leaves must not be cut off before they decay, or the 

 root will be deprived of nourishment, and will not pro- 

 duce handsome flowers the next year. About the end of 

 May, when the leaves and fibres have decayed, the roots 

 may be taken up, wiped clean from earth, husk, &c. and 

 placed in a dry room till September, when they should be 

 replanted. Care must be taken to preserve them from 

 mice, and other fond enemies : mice will utterly destroy 

 them if they can get at them. The bulb should be planted 

 with the bud uppermost, and the earth an inch deep above 

 the top : for one root, a pot three inches wide will be large 

 enough ; four roots may be planted in a pot of six inches 

 in diameter. They should be kept moist ; which will re- 

 quire more or less water, according as they are in the sun 

 or the shade, the room or the balcony, &c. : they will 

 continue longer in blossom if watered rather sparingly after 

 they have begun to blow. These bulbs will likewise flower 

 in water : they may be put into the glasses any time from 

 October to January, and thus be continued in succession. 

 The water should rise a little above the widening of the 

 glass ; and from the time the fibres begin to shoot, should 

 be renewed every four or five days. 



The Autumnal Crocus does not increase so fast as the 

 Spring kinds, nor does it produce seeds in this country. 

 It should be replanted in August, as it flowers in Sep- 

 tember or October. These Crocuses will produce hand- 

 somer flowers if the bulbs be left undisturbed for two or 



