202 
CULTURE OF CROCUSES. 
the seeds may be sown on a dry, warm south border, and then be allowed to remain 
until they flower, which will in general be the fourth year after sowing. 
The most common depredators are sparrows and mice ; the former eat the flowers 
the latter the roots. 
Spring crocuses are divided by M. Sabine into three classes ; as follows* — 
1st Class — Spring crocuses with yellow flowers. 
2nd Class — Spring crocuses with various-coloured flowers (not yellow), having 
the mouths of the flower-tubes without hairs. 
3rd Class— Spring crocuses with various-coloured flowers (not yellow), having 
the mouth of the flower-tubes hairy. 
Class First. In this division are included all the species of crocus which either 
produce yellow or cream-coloured flowers, with their varieties. They are all more 
or less early, being nearly all in full blossom before the principal varieties of crocus 
vernus show themselves. 
1. Cloth of Gold (C. susianus ). This species contains two varieties, vulgaris 
and minor. It has been called the earliest of the crocuses ; but though a few of its 
blossoms may appear flrst, yet C. bijlorus precedes it a few days in the general 
production of blossoms. It is however soonest out of flower, much before any other 
kind. Of the two varieties, the first is the most common, and indeed the only one 
generally known. Neither of the varieties produce flowers very abundantly. 
C. susianus vulgaris. Leaves short, narrow, spreading wide on the ground, 
becoming at length nearly reclinate. The flowers are very little elevated from the 
ground when they expand. The tube of the flower is marked at the top with 
brownish purple stripes. Petals deep yellow, lanceolate, obtuse, and nearly equal. 
The outer are permanently re volute, with a brownish purple stripe, or band, 
occupying the greater part of their back, and finely, but not deeply, feathered at 
the edges, toAvards the top. In the first flowers that show themselves, this stripe 
is usually entire ; but subsequently it appears more divided, and, in some of the 
latter floAvers, these markings are broken into stripes or feathers. The bulbs are of 
tolerable size, rather flattened ; they are covered Avith a netted coat, the reticula- 
tions of which are filled up by a membrane when they are in a state of vegetation. 
This crocus produces only a small quantity of seed. 
C. susianus minor. The leaves of this resemble those of the other sort, but are 
narrower, and more upright in growth at first, but after become equally reclinate. 
The blossoms appear someAvhat earlier. The roots correspond. The plant is 
hoAvever smaller and shorter in all its parts : the outer petals have a little less 
tendency to be revolute, and their yelloAv is a shade paler ; the marks on the 
backs of the external petals are subject to the same variations ; but its flower may 
be particularly distinguished from the other, by the spot at the base of the innner 
petals, which in this is smaller, less conspicuous, not so much feathered, and paler. 
2. Pale Yellow Crocus (C. sulphur eus). This species contains five varieties, 
all of which come into blossom nearly at the same time, after those of C. versicolor 
Horticultural Society’s Transactions, vol. 7, part 4. 
