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CULTURE OF CROCUSES. 
C. argenteus prcecox. This is a seedling raised by Mr. Sabine from the las w 
It agrees with it in most points, but the petals are a little narrower, and have more , 
of the lilac tinge. Its peculiar merit is that of producing its blossoms the first of 
all the crocuses. The flowers are in perfection when those of every other variety 
have scarcely risen from the ground. 
9. Small Crocus (C. pusillus ). This pretty species is a native of Italy, 
whence it was sent to the garden of the Horticultural Society, by Professor Tenore, 1 
of Naples, who first described and named it. The whole flower is very small ; the tube 
is faintly marked with lilac lines ; the petals are concave, the three outer white, 
marked with three lines, the middle one narrow, without featherings, the outer ones 
broader, and neatly feathered towards the outer edges of the petals ; the inner petals 
are ovate and pure white ; the bottoms of the petals within are yellow. The roots 
resemble those of C. argenteus. 
10. Parti-coloured Crocus (C. versicolor ). The blossoms of this species 
have occasionally, though very seldom, eight petals, and four stamina. The varieties 
of this species are arranged under four sections. The general external characters of 
the species are as follow : — Leaves spread widely, and are not very strong. Blossoms 
are small, and appear early, are more or less sweet-scented, and tinged with yellow 
at the mouth of the tube. Petals vary in colour ; but the external ones are more or 
less striped and feathered. Roots rather large, ovate, and covered with a coarse 
ragged, pale, brown skin. Most of the varieties produce seeds tolerably freely. 
Section I. Blossoms pale ground, lines tolerably distinct. 
C. versicolor Gawleri. This flowers sparingly, rather late, and does not open its 
petals freely. Leaves few and narrow. Tube with six faint lilac lines ; outer petals 
have a dull white ground, with three fine irregularly shaped purple feathered stripes ; 
middle one broadest and darkest, two exterior and top of the middle one feathered ; 
inner petals with three dark narrow lines, accompanied with featherings, indistinctly 
marked on a white ground ; the markings become pale purple at the top ; the 
insides of the petals are finely lined, feathered, and tinged with lilac. 
C. versicolor similis. The blossoms are smaller and later than the preceding, and 
produced less freely ; they also expand less ; the inner petals are marked at the 
back like the preceding, but have a lighter ground ; the inside of the petals is 
nearly similar, but paler. 
C. versicolor neglectus. This is perhaps the best variety of those belonging to 
this section. The flowers are larger, with more distinct markings on the outer 
petals ; the ground of the petals is also a clearer white ; the inner petals are not so 
much stained or run with colour, but have three very fine purple lines on them, the 
outside ones having long obscure featherings ; the inside of the whole show the 
markings through. 
Section II. Blossoms very distinctly marked with dark stripes or featherings. 
C. versicolor purpureus. Is very early in the production of its flowers, which 
are particularly beautiful. 
C. versicolor plumosus. Was raised from seed in the garden of Mr. Sabine, at 
North Minims ; it is by far the most beautiful variety of this species. Il blossoms 
late. The insides of the petals are very beautiful, for though the featherings on 
