634 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Crocuses grown in flower pan. 



considered, February or early March is the most showy and effective bulbs in the 

 best time to plant, or to lift, divide, and garden. Ordinary soil is suitable. Those 

 replant the bulbs. The flowering period is that blossom in autumn and winter are 

 from July to October. At this season estab- planted from June to August, and the spring- 

 flowering kinds during September 

 or October. An inch of soil is 

 ample covering for the bulbs, 

 which should be about 3 inches 

 apart. Crocuses look especially 

 well in grass, preferably on banks 

 or sloping ground, and under 

 deciduous trees, while in small 

 gardens they are effective as an 

 edging. Small beds of Crocuses 

 in distinct colours are worth plant- 

 ing, for the foliage withers early, 

 and beds can be cleared in good 

 time for the summer plants. 

 Crocus bulbs planted in positions 

 where they may grow perma- 

 nently only need be lifted if the 

 growths become crowded. In- 

 crease is by offsets, taken off in 

 August or September. Those that 

 blossom in autumn and winter 

 lished clumps push up stiff flower stems 3 to 4 are suitable for planting in sheltered 

 feet high, crowned with large umbels of spots in the rock garden or at the base of 

 funnel-shaped blossoms. The best covering standard Rose trees. Several of these also 

 in winter is a small mound of coal-ashes produce a delightful effect in the grass, 

 round the stems, 

 and over this 

 some light brac- 

 ken, or Michael- 

 mas Daisy stems. 



The hardiest ^^fiflBHPT H I ill I 1 1| P' ! .illlii III 



Crinums are C. 

 longifolium (ca- 

 pense), delicate 

 pink, and var. 

 album, white, 

 both are fra- 

 grant ; C. Moorei, 

 flesh pink, and 

 var album, 

 white, scented ; 

 C. Powelli, rose- 

 coloured, and C. 

 Powelli album, 

 white. 



Crocus. Xo garden can be considered notably C. speciosus, C. longiflorus, and 

 complete without the Crocus. Some flower C. sativus. A selection from the following 

 in autumn, others in winter, while in early would make a pleasing addition to many 

 spring, February and March, they are the small town and suburban gardens, and they 



Blue Crocuses in the grass. 



