130 On the Cultivation of Crocuses. 



or, as it is (improperly enough) termed, degenerate into self 

 colours. Those which have been kept out of the ground the 

 longest, will, as might be expected, flower the latest ; and by 

 planting some of the stoutest of such, in cold northern situa- 

 tions, and as deep again as usual, an agreeable artificial pro- 

 traction of their blooming is occasionally produced, some 

 weeks later in the season than would otherwise occur. They 

 likewise admit of having their flowers accelerated by forcing, 

 in the usual way : but this weakens the roots so much, they 

 cannot bloom again the following year. 



Innumerable forced pots of Crocuses are seen annually 

 exposed to sale in Covent Garden, along with other vernal 

 flowers ; and a sort of pot called a Hedgehog, also often ap- 

 pears amongst the others. It is made in the shape of that 

 quadruped, but full of holes, and filled with earth ; and 

 one large Crocus root is placed internally, in the front of 

 every hole ; the bristling leaves of which, shooting through 

 the holes, represent grotesquely enough, but not unaptly, the 

 spines of the animal. But I have seldom observed these 

 crocine hedgehogs produce many flowers. This, however, 

 may arise from their not receiving a sufficient supply of wa- 

 ter ; and if so, admits of the most easy remedy, by occasional 

 immersion of the whole Hedgehog in a vessel of water. I 

 have also flowered the larger bulbs of Crocuses in glasses of 

 water, after the manner of Hyacinths : but in this way they 

 produce only a scanty bloom. 



Notwithstanding Crocuses have been cultivated universally 

 as ornamental plants, both in this country, and on the conti- 

 nent, from the most early ages of gardening, still their specific 

 distinctions, botanically speaking, are even now but imper- 



