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CULTURE OF CROCUSES- 
1 
C. versicolor urbanus. This is the nearest to white of the whole collection ; it 
is the Urbanus, or cream-coloured crocus of the Dutch. It comes into blossom 
early. It produces seeds, but not abundantly. 
Third Class. Various-coloured flowers (not yellow), having the mouths of the 
flower-tubes hairy. 
In this class there is only one species, but it possesses so many varieties, that it 
is more extensive in number of plants than either of the preceding classes. 
11. Common Spring Crocus (C. vernus). This plant grows naturally wild in 
the large extended meadow on the side of the river Trent, south of the town of 
Nottingham. The bulbs of the different varieties vary in size, they are however 
generally small. They all produce more or less seed. 
Section I. Purple Spring, outer petals nearly of one colour, from dark purple 
to pale lilac inclusive, being sometimes blotched, and without any, or with very 
little white ; the inner petals being either of a uniform colour, paler than the outer, 
or feathered. These are arranged, beginning with the darkest, and proceeding to 
the palest of the section. 
C. vernus puniceus. Comes late, and remains long in flower, producing a 
moderate quantity of blossoms. 
C. vernus purpureus. Is in flower rather early in the middle season, producing 
a tolerable quantity of blossoms. 
C. vernus marginatus . Produces its blossoms not very abundant, and after 
the middle season. 
C. vernus Sabini. Flowers tolerably freely and early, but not among the first. 
The flowers are obovate, standing high, opening well, and when expanded are 
magnificent, and larger than probably any other sort. 
C. vernus grandis. Flowers rather abundantly and early. The flowers are 
large and fine. 
C. vernus obovatus. Is not very productive of flowers, which appear rather late ; 
they are very handsome and larger. 
C. vernus concinnus. Is in flower late in the middle season, and its blossoms are 
tolerably numerous. 
C. vernus Phetkon. Flowers freely and early in the middle season. This 
variety has a great disposition to produce eight petals and four anthers ; it has also 
been known to have ten petals, looking like a double flower. 
C. vernus clavalus. Flowers tolerably abundant and early. It has a large, tall, 
club-shaped lilac flower ; largest of all, except the variety called Sabini. 
C. vernus violaceus. Produces flowers abundantly and early. The whole flower 
externally a rich lilac, with dark purple feathered spots at the base. 
C. vernus dubius. Flowers tolerably abundantly, and remains in blossom until 
April. From the lateness of the period to which the blossoms remain, this might 
be considered as belonging to the last section. This variety has in some collections 
been called C. Neapolitanus. 
C. vernus pruinosus. Is tolerably abundant in flowers, it comes late into, and 
remains late in blossom. 
c. vernus fusiformis. Flowers freely, but rather late- The flowers are very 
slender, and smaller than most others. 
