CROCUSES AND CROWN IMPERIAL. 47 



time ; these will serve to nail the boards to, and thus 

 answer two purposes. 



Anemones and Rununculuses may be planted in 

 October or November, in drills two inches deep, and 

 six inches apart; the roots should be placed claws 

 downwards, about four inches distant from each other, 

 and covered up, leaving the bed quite level. The 

 awning need not be erected over the beds until they 

 come into flower, w T hich will be early in May. 



Crocuses. — These are hardy little bulbs, said to be 

 natives of Switzerland. There are in all about fifty 

 varieties of this humble, yet beautiful little plant, em- 

 bracing a great variety of hues and complexions, and 

 their hardiness and earliness in flower offer a strong 

 motive to their cultivation. The bulbs may be planted 

 in October or November, in rows about six inches 

 from the edgings ; or if in beds, they may be placed in 

 ranks of distinct colours, about four inches apart, and 

 from one to two deep, which will afford to their ad- 

 mirers considerable amusement and gratification, and 

 that at a very early season. They are generally in full 

 perfection early in April. 



Crown Imperial. — This is a species of the genus 

 Fritillaria, of which there are about twenty species 

 and varieties, chiefly natives of Persia. These squa- 

 mose bulbs produce tall luxuriant stems, embellished 

 with green glossy foliage, and flowers of various hues ; 

 but there are only a few of the most curious cultivated, 

 perhaps on account of their odour, which, to some 



