CROCUS. 89 



soon as ripe, in a pan or box, broadcast ; the seeds should 

 be lightly covered and sprinkled with water and placed in 

 the garden alongside of the wall, giving them a southern 

 aspect, and keeping them moist until late in the fall when 

 the pan or box should be removed into a pit until the spring. 

 When the leaves appear, move them into the garden, pro- 

 tecting them from heavy rains and sudden frost. In May, 

 when the leaves die down, take off a little of the surface 

 soil and put fresh in its place. The third year take them 

 up and treat them the same as full grown corms ; the next 

 year you may expect them to flower. The Crocus is gen- 

 erally increased by offsets, which it will produce abundant- 

 ly, and in most cases will flower the following season. 

 The object in raising from seed is to produce new varieties, 

 but the operation is somewhat tedious, and not advisable, as 

 there are as many varieties now in cultivation as will satis- 

 fy any reasonable person, for there are now in cultivation 

 one hundred and twenty with names. The whole variety, 

 one of each, can be purchased in England for one dollar 

 and fifty cents. 



The Crocus does very well planted between the rows of 

 Tulips, or in clumps in the border, diversifying the colors 

 so as to make a contrast. The bulbs or corms should be 

 dibbled in about two inches deep, and may be allowed to 

 remain in the ground three years, and does well if the sea- 

 son be dry, if rainy will be apt to rot. I have always found 

 the best and safest plan was to take them up dry, and pack 

 them in sand until October, aud then be planted the same 

 time as other bulbs. It is frequently the case that many 

 bulbs are brought to this country from Holland, and kept 

 for sale at seed stores until spring-: persons should be cau- 

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