THE CROCUS, 
65 
PRESERVING THE BULBS. 
These must not be kept too warm nor too 
dry, for they are more apt to perish than a 
more juicy bulb. Tliey are not formed of 
juicy layers like a tulip, onion, narcissus or 
hyacinth, but of a close dry substance, more 
like the composition of a bean, and as they do 
not exhibit the least difference when dried so 
as to kill them, but remain to all appearance 
the same, there is great danger in buying 
them late in the season, for with all the appear- 
ance of good ones they may be found past 
germinating, and so disappoint us. If there- 
fore you lay them by, let it be in a cool dry 
place, and if you buy any after they are out 
of the ground, do it always before the end of 
November at the latest, but better in October. 
The Calendar of operations for this is very 
simple indeed, and the properties ai-e as 
follow : — 
1. It should be composed of six petals, 
three inner and three outer, but fitting so 
close as to form a cup the shape of half a 
hollow ball. 
2. The petals should be broad enough, and 
blunt enough at the ends, to form an even 
edge all round the cup, and lap over each 
other so much, as to have no indentations 
where they join. 
3. The petals should be thick, and smooth 
on the edges, without notch or serrature. 
4. The colour should be dense, and all over 
the same, if the variety be a self ; and the 
marking should be very distinct, if variegated. 
5. It should be hardy enough to stand the 
frost, for those which are spoiled by the frosts 
which come after they flower are almost worth- 
less, because they all bloom early, before the 
frosts are all gone, and therefore their only 
beauty would be destroyed unless they stood 
the cold well. 
Lastly. They ought to bloom abundantly, 
the flowers succeeding each other, to lengthen 
the season of their bloom. 
MONTHLY TREATMENT. 
January. — The roots are now, or ought to 
be, in the ground, and require no care what- 
ever, except merely keeping the beds, bor- 
ders, and clumps in which they are planted 
clear of weeds ; no degree of frost appears 
to have the slightest effect on these bulbs. 
February. — If the season has been mild, 
most of the plants appear above ground ; and 
in the beds in which choice seedlings are 
planted the surface of the ground may be 
stirred with advantage, first, for the sake of 
neatness, next, because it promotes the admis- 
sion of air to the roots and facilitates free 
growth ; weed the seedling-bed before the 
weeds grow large enough to hurt the seedlings. 
March. — In ordinary seasons the majority 
50. 
of sorts are in flower before this month is out; 
and among blooming seedlings, from wliich 
you intend to select the best, take advantage 
of the full sun-shine to examine them, for 
they expand in the warm rays, and you caii 
see the shape. It is useless to attempt to 
discriminate, unless the sun be on them and 
the flowers fairly open ; only such as have 
broad petals, and form a cup when opened, 
should be considered worth adding to the 
present varieties. Continue to we^d the 
seedling-beds, both one and two years old. 
April. — A mere continuation of lastmonth's 
attention and operation, especially weeding 
the young seedlings. 
May. — The Crocus out of bloom sends 
forth its foliage at considerable length like 
long grass, and unless they have been planted 
in some kind of order, tliey now look untidy ; 
but the practice of clipping this grass, although 
not of any great importance where they grow 
in large patches and open borders, is decidedly 
injurious to the growth of the bulbs, and 
checks the increase of size. 
June & July. — The foliage will be turning 
yellow, when they may be taken up. The 
seed-pods will be seen in the heart of the 
leaves, and should be gathered, if from good 
roots and worth the trouble ; all the choice 
ones should be' first taken up and kept in 
separate bags wdth their names, labels, num- 
bers, and descriptions. After this, unbloomed 
seedlings should be taken up, and also kept 
separately, because you know not but that 
the most insignificant may prove the best. 
The great bulk may then be taken up and 
laid together accoi'ding to the several distinc- 
tions, that you may be able to prevent any 
admixture of one soi't or colour with another. 
All the seedlings that have bloomed and are 
not good enough to propagate or name, may 
be thrown together as mixtures, to be sold, 
thrown away, or given away. IMark with 
labels, to prevent disturbing them, all to be 
left in the ground. 
August & September. — While the bulbs 
are out of the ground, keep them dry and 
cool ; damp will soon destroy them, and any 
excess of warmth, long together, will dry 
them, and destroy their vitality. As, how- 
ever, you may begin planting from August, 
and keep on till November, tiiere is no par- 
ticular hurry ; let it depend on your conve- 
nience, as vacancies occur. All the verbenas 
and tender plants in clumps require to be 
taken up in winter ; the planting of Crocuses 
may bide the clearance of these less robust 
tenants. Sow seed. 
October & November— Finish planting 
with all industry ; for, from the moment a 
root begins to spear, it loses strength out of 
ground. Plant all that you may want in pots, 
F 
