On the Cultivation of Crocuses. 



vernal beauties became the objects of my horticultural assi- 

 duity: and every succeeding year has added something to my 

 knowledge of their propensities, and distinctions : having at 

 various intervals raised an immense number. Nevertheless, in 

 the course of collecting their seeds I have with surprise per- 

 ceived, that those of the blue, purple, and white flowered kinds 

 alone, ripened with me. For I never observed either a 

 single capsule from a yellow* one, or raised a single seedling 

 with the least tint of that colour, in any part of its petals. 

 In nature, therefore, it should appear, that some inexpli- 

 cable distinction exists between the yellows, and the other 

 species. The leaves of the yellows, likewise, are much nar- 

 rower throughout every species and variety. 



With respect to the culture of these plants, it shall " be 

 treated of from the seed upwards, to the age of maturity, or 

 flowering : this occupies a period of from three to four years. 

 Being of the bulbous kind, the seeds of Crocuses should be 

 gathered as soon as they have ripened ; which is denoted by 

 the partial splitting of their capsules at the top, as well as 

 by their pale and dry appearance, and by the large redden- 

 ing seeds themselves becoming more or less visible between 

 the capsular fissures. This happens sometime in the month 

 of June, about the period of the annual exsiccation of their 

 leaves. 



It may be worthy of remark in this place, that the cap- 

 sules of Crocuses are excluded in a manner widely different 

 from that of most other vegetables. They are not, as usual, 



* The yellow flowered Crocuses, except the species with very small anthers, 

 have been observed in other gardens to ripen seeds, and in some seasons very 

 plentifully. Seer. 



