Crocus 



Crocus 



CROCUS. 



Description. Charming spring-, autumn-, or 

 winter - flowering bulbous plants (ord. Irideie), 

 .so well known as to need no detailed description. 

 They are of the highest decorative value, either 

 1'or planting; in beds or borders, on grass, in the 

 rock garden, or in frames. They are also very 

 pleasing when grown in pots for the house or 

 e.mservatory. All are hardy, except when other- 

 wise indicated. The various species, as dis- 

 tinguished from the popular Dutch spring Crocuses, 

 are very desirable, and ought to be more largely 

 grown. Those which bloom in autumn are es"- 

 peeially worthy of the notice .of garden lovers. 

 Sativus produces the saffron, for which it was at 

 one time largely grown in England. 



Propagation. By offsets or by seeds, the former 

 being removed when the plants are at rest, and 

 the latter sown as soon as ripe, or in spring, in 

 pans or in the open ground! where, if not sown too 

 closely, the seedlings may remain until large 

 enough to flower. When rapid increase is desired, 

 the corms or " bulbs '' (the former being the proper 

 term) maybe planted about 4" apart, and lifted 

 every two or three years. 



Soil. The Crocus will grow in almost any good 

 soil, but it thrives best when it has one of a rich, 

 light, sandy nature. 



Other Cultural Points. Crocuses ought to be as 

 short a time out of the ground as possible, so that 

 replanting should, if possible, be done immediately 

 alter lifting. The best time to do this is as soon 

 as the leaves have become quite yellow, and come 

 freely away from the corms. Plant about, 3" deep, 

 ami the same apart, unless an immediate effect is 

 required, when they may be placed almost close 

 together. When Crocuses are to be planted in 

 grass, it is desirable to remove the turf immedi- 

 ately above where they are to be planted, and to 

 stir the soil below thoroughly, adding, if it is poor, 

 a little b>ne dust or basic slag, and replacing the 

 turf after the Crocuses are in position. Plants in 

 grass or elsewhere must not have the leaves cut 

 oil before they have become yellow. Forgetful- 

 ness of this is responsible for the poor results 

 often seen. 



Crocuses in Pots. These should be planted close 

 together ; from five to six corms are required for a 

 5" pot. They may be only lightly covered with soil, 

 and then plunged in ashes or Cocoanut fibre refuse 

 in the open or in a cold frame until the roots have 

 nearly filled the pots and top growth has begun, 

 when they may be taken indoors and gradually 

 brought on in a higher temperature. The Dutch 

 Crocuses may be grown in water, like the Hyacinth, 

 or in damp moss or Jadoo. 



Key to the Genus. An admirable key to the 

 genus was drawn up by Mr. George Maw, whose 

 great " .Monograph of the genus Crocus " is a 

 standard work on the Crocuses, and of great 

 assistance to growers. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 



aureus, spr., or. yel. The parent of our golden 

 yel. Dutch Crocus, so indispensable in our gardens 

 in spr. There are a number of vars. of this 

 species, of which a few of the best are albus, 

 llavus, lacteus, lacteus pencillatus, lutescens, 

 miesiaeiis. pallidus, sulphurous, and trilineatus. 

 These vary in shade of yel. or creamy wh. 



bitlorus, spr., wh. A useful, very early Crocus, 

 giving a number of forms, such as Adami, Alex- 



andri (syn. C. Alexandri), argenteus, c;endescens, 

 estriatus, Leichtlinii, nubigenus, Pestalozzaji, pur- 

 purascens, pusillus, and Weldeni. 



chrysanthus, spr., or. Several vars., including 

 albidus, cterulescens, Canary Bird, fusco-lineatus, 

 fusco-tinctus, and superbus. 



Imperati, spr., pur., buff exterior. A very early 

 and desirable species. There are several forms, 

 those known as longiflorus and albus being desir- 

 able. 



longiflorus, aut., lil., pur. A pretty, sweet 

 scented species (syn. odorus), va'rs. Wilhelmi and 

 melitensis. 



inidillorus, aut., pur. A good aut. Crocus, said 

 to be wild or naturalised near Nottingham. 



sativus, aut., pur. The Saffron Crocus, from 

 which is obtained the genuine saffron of com- 

 merce. There are a number of forms, nearly all 



of which bloom more freely than the type, which 

 is shy in many gardens. Good forms are eari- 

 wrightianus, Elwesii. Ilaussknechtii, Pallasii, and 

 Taitii. These range from wh. to pur. 



Sieberi, spr., lil. A lovely little species, one of 

 the earliest to bloom It is variable, and the form 

 versicolor is very beautiful. 



speciosus, aut., lil., pur. Among the most elTee- 

 tive of all the aut. species, and one of the first to 

 bloom. The form or var. Aitchisonii is very fine. 



tommasinianus, spr., lavender. A cheap little 

 early blooming Crocus, which should be planted in 

 quantity. It varies slightly in shade of colour. 



vernus, spr., wh. to pur. A valuable species, the 

 parent of the finely coloured Dutch wh., pur., and 

 striped Crocuses, whose names will be found in 

 any catalogue. There are u good many less well 

 known forms worth growing, such as concinnus, 

 George Maw, Leedsii, leucorhynchus, obovatus. 

 siculus, etc. 



versicolor, spr.. pur., striped. A variable Crocus, 

 known as the Cloth of Silver Crocus. Vars. albus, 

 picturatiis, retlexus, and violaceus. 



