CULTURE OF CROCUSES. 
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have opened,, but before any of the kinds of C. vernus are out. Their flowering is 
soon passed. They all increase rapidly from bulbs, but do not produce seeds. 
C. sulphureus slriatus. Leaves narrow, upright, dark green, about the height 
of the flower when the blossoms appear, afterwards they grow very long, still 
keeping their upright character ; they do not decay early. Flowers numerous, 
do not expand much. Petals small, pale yellow, lanceolate, concave and narrow. 
Outer petals marked with three brown, very neat feathered stripes, the middle one 
of which is broadest. Inner petals a little broader than the outer, marked at the 
base with a brown, slightly feathered spot, terminated by a line running a short 
way up the petal. At the lower part of the petal inside the colour is rather darker, 
giving the appearance of a yellow cup at the bottom of the flower ; this is only per- 
ceptible when the flower is opened. Bulbs small, covered with a brown silky coat, 
without any appearance of being netted ; the sheaths of the leaves remain perma- 
nent, and form long necks to the roots when dried. 
C. sulphureus striatellus. Similar to the preceding, except that it is very indis- 
tinctly striped ; the brown markings on the tube and petals are not conspicuous ; and 
the feathery stripes on the outer petals are much less perfect. It has but little merit. 
C. sulphureus isabellinus. In this the yellow colour is nearly quite free from 
markings, which are only perceptible at the top of the tube, very imperfectly so, 
but sufficiently to prevent its being described as entirely yellow. It grows 
weakly. 
C. sulphureus concolor. In this every appearance of the brown colour is 
obliterated, and the uniformity of the yellow is not disturbed by any markings on 
any of the flower above the tube, which is white; with this exception, it corresponds 
with the three preceding. The petals of this variety, as well as those of the first, 
from luxuriance, are occasionally divided, and so assume the appearance of being 
more than six ; but this circumstance is not constant nor is it at all times observable 
even among a large number of blossoms. 
C. sulphureus albidus. Is paler than the preceding, and is also without any 
brown marks; the flower has the appearance of having had the yellow colour 
discharged from the upper part of the petals, which usually seem as if blighted by 
the weather. This is the e6 C. jlavus (3. ” of the late Mr. Haworth, and the narrow- 
leaved crocus, with a smaller brimstone coloured flower of Miller. It is also the 
C. pallidus of the fourth and subsequent editions of the “ Hortus Cantabrigiensis.'’ 
Starry Crocus (C. stellaris ). This comes into flower early, soon after the 
C. susianus , and produces plenty of blossoms, closely set together. The leaves are 
narrow, numerous, and upright, rising only to the base of the flowers at their first 
blossoming ; they grow long afterwards and continue green till a later period than 
those of other sorts. The tube of the flower has six brownish stripes at the top. 
The petals are a bright, rich deep yellow, lanceolate, obtuse, entire, concave, never 
revolute, never open much, but are somewhat stellate under bright sunshine. The 
outer petals have on their backs five brownish purple stripes, the two external 
stripes being less distinct, and more feathered. Inner petals broader than the outer, 
and have an abbreviated, green feathered stripe at their base. Bulbs small, multiply 
rapidly, are covered with a shining silky skin, the inner coat being finely netted. 
