By Joseph Sabine, Esq. 



4*1 



circular patches in the borders, or in rows across narrow 

 beds, and arranged according to their colours, their classifi- 

 cations, or periods of their flowering, as the fancy of the Cul- 

 tivator may direct. When planted in rows, the roots should 

 be placed in double lines, the two lines being contiguous to 

 each other ; the effect to the eye by this is far superior to that 

 produced by single lines. A collection looks best when 

 planted in considerable quantity, and is particularly splendid 

 when several beds are near to each other. A very good 

 appearance is produced by planting a compartment thickly 

 with various kinds, so as to cover the whole bed, in any pat- 

 tern that may be devised. The disposition of the kinds 

 should be in broad, not narrow stripes, and the colours of the 

 kinds placed next to each other should be well contrasted. 

 When the plants are all in flower the whole resembles a 

 richly coloured carpet. 



The earliest kinds shew their flowers in the end of January 

 or beginning of February, sooner or later according to the sea- 

 son ; the blossoms of the general mass of the collection are in 

 perfection through March, and the later flowering varieties of 

 C. vernus continue in beauty during the best part of April. 



Crocuses require no protection in winter except from mice, 

 which attack them voraciously, frequently destroying the 

 whole of the roots, if they are suffered to continue their de- 

 predations unmolested. Rabbits also will eat both the leaves 

 and the flowers of several of the kinds ; they are particularly 

 fond of the varieties of C. biflorus. The common House 

 Sparrows, as has been noticed by Curtis, (Botanical Maga- 

 zine, folio 45) are so fond of pecking the blossoms, especially 

 of the Large Yellow Crocus, that they will soon destroy the 



vol. vn. 3 K 



