17 
POTS FOR EARLY CROCUSES AND BULBS. 
The practice of growing Crocuses and other dwarf bulbous plants in pots, for 
decorating greenhouses and drawing-room windows, has most likely been common 
in Britain from the period when the first attempts at cultivating potted exotics 
were made. Since then, the varieties have been so wonderfully improved and 
increased, that the most fashionable floriculturists of the present day continue to 
avail themselves of similar ornaments. 
Such a striking refinement of taste has, however, accompanied, or perhaps 
produced, the melioration of flowers, that ordinary garden-pots have been in some 
measure discarded from the above service ; and in the case of the lower and more 
compact-growing kinds, a species of ornamental receptacle, capable of admitting a 
greater quantity of plants, and showing them to better advantage, has formed an 
agreeable substitute. 
In several suburban gardens, and also in the windows of some of the London 
tradesmen, we have seen a sort of saucepan-shaped flower-pot, with a convex bottom, 
destitute of edges, freely perforated with holes, and placed in an inverted position, 
made use of for Crocuses. We consider this objectionable, because its appearance 
is anything but pleasing, and there is a difficulty in supplying the plants with water. 
Believing that the employment of any such expedient furnishes an interesting 
feature to both the greenhouse and drawing-room, especially to the latter, and that 
the usual forms of pots in which these plants are kept are susceptible of considerable 
improvement, we lay before our readers the simple opinions we entertain on the 
subject. The shape best adapted for the object is obviously a pyramidal one, with 
a flat open space at the top, and a rim half an inch broad, inclining outwards, with 
another rim at the base, about the same distance below the bottom of the frame, to 
allow the water to drain off readily. 
The material we should employ would be wood, because this can be manufac- 
tured into any desired form ; and although less durable than earthenware, it 
can be painted so as to last a considerable time, and may be renewed at pleasure 
at a very trifling expense. The whole of the sides and top should be bored with 
round holes, about an inch apart, and half an inch in diameter ; and the bottom 
must be made to slide in and out as may be required. The size can be varied from 
four to six or eight inches diameter at the base, and a proportionate height. In 
painting them a green colour is to be chosen, as being more lively and natural. 
With reference to the period for introducing crocuses, dwarf tulips, or any small 
bulbs, the month of November should be preferred ; but they can be taken 
from the ground or from pots at the present time, and their stems placed through 
the holes, making the soil up carefully about their roots. A sandy loam is the 
most proper earth, and the frame can be inverted between two trestles during the 
VOL, VIII. NO. LXXXV. 
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