The Garden of British Wild Flowers. 219 



worthy of culture, and indeed is, or was, a favourite 

 plant in many gardens before it was discovered as 

 a British plant, having formerly been introduced 

 to our gardens from central and southern Europe. 

 The spring Crocus (C. vernus) is abundant in 

 the neighbourhood of Nottingham, and other parts 

 of England and Ireland ; and the less known 

 but equally beautiful autumn Crocus (C. nudiflorus) 

 is also naturalized in Derbyshire, about Nottingham, 

 and in a few other places. It is quite needless to 

 praise either. The blue or normal form of the 

 vernal crocus is, or ought to be, in nearly every 

 garden ; but the autumnal crocus is quite of rare 

 occurrence in gardens, and should be introduced to 

 all, because it opens its handsome flowers when most 

 others have perished or are perishing, and closes 

 the season of flowers so well opened by the spring 

 crocus. It is equally easy of culture with the spring 

 crocus, but, being so much scarcer, deserves to 

 have a good position, good soil, and some watch- 

 fulness, to prevent its being dug up by care- 

 less workmen, that it may increase, and be- 

 come a conspicuous autumnal ornament in our 

 gardens. 



The embellishment of water is really much more 

 of an important subject than is generally supposed. 



