24 



THE FLOWER GAEDEX. 



bulb has quitted its dormant state, as far as the emission 

 of roots is concerned. Thus, the Colchicum will send 

 forth its succession of blooms, while lying in a basket, 

 on a window-sill, or in a China dish, without the contact 

 of a particle of earth, to the great astonishment of the 

 inexperienced. When the flowering is over it must be 

 planted. An objection to it is, that its foliage is coarse 

 and cumbrous in proportion to the amount of bloom 

 displayed; but this may be remedied by making the 

 bulbs leaf in a reserved ground, to bloom where wanted, 

 Some use them as an edging. There is a double variety. 

 The plant must be regarded as poisonous, though it fur- 

 nishes a medicine of questionable value. Quite hardy ; 

 not nice about soil, but preferring moisture. 



Crocus. — The welcome harbinger of returning sun- 

 shine and cheerfulness ; although one species, C. satirus, 

 or saffron, flowers in the autumn, and is cultivated for 

 culinary and medicinal purposes rather than as a garden 

 plant. The genus is large ; a few species only are desir- 

 able for the parterre, the Alpine crocuses having mostly 

 insignificant flowers, although interesting in other 

 respects. The yellow crocus, C. luteus, is a general 

 favourite ; but requires a bright sunny day for its perfect 

 expansion. The Cloth of Gold, C. Susianus, which has 

 been put forward to rival it, is far inferior. C. vermis 

 includes many shades between lilac and white. Crocuses 

 are employed either as an edging, in separate tufts along 

 the border, or to form geometrical patterns, and even 

 coats of arms, in combination with hepaticas, snow- 

 drops, bands of gravel, chalk, small coal &c. &c, on a 

 smooth grass-plat. Such devices may be made to accord 

 well with the formal and architectural style of garden- 

 ing ; but their effect is scarcely appreciated on the level 

 ground. It must be seen from a first or second-floor 

 window. In landscape-gardening, C. vemus may be 

 employed as a charming decorative adjunct if profusely 

 and irregularly planted beneath clumps of tall trees, per- 

 haps in combination with snowdrops and winter aconite, 

 in such a way as to imitate a particoloured carpet 



