58 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



CRA 



Crambe. Sea-Kale. The name crambe is derived 

 from the Greek name for Sea-cabbage. Linn. Te- 

 tradynamia. Nat. Ord. Brassicacece. 



A genus of hardy perennials. G. maritime, the 

 best known species, is a native of the west coast 

 of England, where it grows in great abundance 

 in the clean sand and gravel. The common peo- 

 ple have, from time immemorial, been in the 

 practice of watching the appearance of the shoots 

 and leaf-stalks closely, as they appear in early 

 spring, when they cut them off under ground 

 in the same manner as we do Asparagus. These 

 young shoots, when cooked, are by many con- 

 sidered superior to either Asparagus or Cauli- 

 flower. Sea-Kale is only fit for use in a blanched 

 state, which is easily done. In early spring the 

 crowns should be covered with sand, or some 

 light mulching that will exclude the young shoot 

 from the light, the covering being from twelve 

 to fifteen inches in depth. By the time the 

 young leaves are through this mulching they 

 will be perfectly blanched and fit for use. It is 

 a common practice with gardeners to cover the 

 crowns with an inverted flower-pot, and by 

 others the whole bed is covered with manure. 

 Either plan will prove satisfactory. Sea-Kale is 

 increased by seed or root cuttings, the latter plan 

 being preferable. The roots should be taken up 

 in the fall, cut in pieces two to three inches long, 

 and these placed in boxes of sand in a dry cel- 

 lar until February or March. They are then 

 strewn on the surface of a hot-bed, where, in a 

 week or two, they w.ill emit roots and tops, and 

 they should then be potted to harden them off. 

 As soon as the weather is settled, plant out in 

 rows, three feet apart and two feet between the 

 plants. With this treatment the crowns, under 

 favorable circumstances, will be strong enough 

 to yield a crop the next season. 



Cranberry. See Oxycoccus. 



Cranberry-Tree. See Viburnum opulus. 



Crane-fly Orchis. See Tipularia. 



Cranesbill. See Geranium. 



Crape Myrtle. See Lagerstrcemia. 



Crassula. A diminutive of craasus, thick ; in 

 reference to the fleshy leaves and stems. Linn. 

 Peniandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Crassulacece. 



Succulent green-house plants, natives of the 

 Cape of Gooa Hope, with heads of red or white 

 flowers. All the Crassula should have alternate 

 seasons of stimulus and repose. When they are 

 growing, and about to flower, they should be 

 well watered, and when the flowers begin to fade, 

 the supply of water should be gradually lessened, 

 till at last very little is given. The plants are 

 propagated by cuttings, which should be laid on 

 a shelf two or three days to dry before planting, 

 or they may rot. Most of the species are from 

 the Cape of Good Hope, and have been in culti- 

 vation more than a century. 



Crasswort. See Crudanella. 



Cratsegus. The Hawthorn. From Iratos, strength ; 

 in reference to the strength and hardness of the 

 wood. Linn. Jcosandria-Dipentagynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Pomacecn. 



A well-known family of moderate-sized trees, 

 commonly called thorns. They are found 

 throughout the United States, Europe, and the 

 temperate regions of Asia and Africa. There is 

 a great resemblance to each other in all the spe- 

 cies, both as to the shape of the leaves and color 

 of the flowers. The English Hawthorn, C. oxy- 

 acaniha, so commonly used as a hedge plant, will 

 not stand the seventy of our winters, at least 

 much north of New York, with a certainty that 



CRI 



would warrant its use here. Single specimens 

 are often met, in old gardens, of great age and 

 size. The Hawthorns are remarkable not 

 only for their fragrant flowers and ornamental 

 fruit, but for the variations common in 

 both. The flowers are usually white, but in 

 the cultivated varieties vary to pink and crim- 

 son. The fruit is sometimes globular, sometimes 

 oblong, but generally smooth and polished, and 

 in some quite downy ; while the color is from 

 black to orange-yellow and white. The double- 

 flowering varieties are especially beautiful. 

 Some of our native species are among the most 

 ornamental low trees we have in our gardens, 

 being, when in bloom, completely covered with 

 pure white flowers of delicious fragrance. From 

 the time of their coming into flower they have 

 been quite commonly called the May-tree. From 

 the perfect hardiness of the species, their orna- 

 mental appearance both in flower and fruit, 

 which never fails, they should be cultivated to 

 the exclusion of the foreign kinds. Propagated 

 usually by seeds, which not unfrequently take 

 two years to germinate. A double-flowering va- 

 riety, sent from France, is a tree of great beauty, 

 the flowers being bright rosy pink, not unlike 

 the flowering Almond, but of greater substance. 

 This variety is not considered hardy north of 

 Philadelphia. The great drawback to its culture 

 is its being subj ect to the attacks of the " borer. " 

 It is propagated by cuttings or by budding on 

 the more common varieties. The whole species 

 grow well in a soil that is naturally dry ; wet or 

 marshy situations are wholly unsuited to them. 



Crazy Weed. See Astragalus. 



Crawfurdia. In honor of Sir John Crawfurd, Gov- 

 ernor of Singapore. Linn. Pentandria-DiijyHi't. 

 Nat. Ord. Genlianacece. 



This genus consists of two species, both her- 

 baceous climbing plants, closely allied to, and 

 formerly included in, the genus Gentiana. C. 

 Japonica, (Climbing Gentian, ) a native of Japan, 

 is an exceedingly beautiful plant, attaining a 

 height of six feet, and producing large axillary 

 bell-shaped flowers of a deep blue color. C. fascir- 

 ulata, (fascicle flowered,) a native of the Hima- 

 layas, is a similar species, but not so tall. Propa- 

 gated by division or from seed. Both species are 

 of recent introduction into the garden. 



Creeping Forget-me-not. See Ontphdlodes. 



Creeping Charlie. A popular name of Lysima- 

 chia. 



Creosote Plant. See Lama. . 



Cress. See Lepidivm. 



Cressa. From cressa, a native of Crete; the 

 plant is plentiful there. Linn. Pentandria-Di<jij- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. Oonvolvulaceee, 



A curious little annual, rarely seen in our col- 

 lections. The flowers are funnel shaped, of a 

 lively purple, and freely produced. It requires 

 but little care or nursing, if planted in a light, 

 rich soil. There is but one species, G. Crotica, 

 which is a native of the Levant. Introduced in 

 1822. 



Crinum. From krtnon, the Greek name of the 

 Lily. Linn. Jlexandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 AmaryttidacefK. 



This is a fine genus of bulbous plants, grow- 

 ing from a foot and a half to five feet in height. 

 The flowers are large, produced freely in um- 

 bels, and many of them are richly scented and 

 of pleasing colors. To grow them well they 

 should be potted in rich loam full of fibrous 

 matter, and, in the early part of the growing 

 season, should have the benefit of a moderate 



