NATURAL HISTORY. 2e5 
in appearance: They bear bunches of fcarlet flow- 
ers, upon ftalks above two feet high, in June and 
July. Lhey are fo greatly efteemed, that gardiners 
rear them in pots, to decorate the moft beautiful 
arts of their garden, or to be placed, in the fummer 
Eeaiou, in chimnies, where they prove a moft pleafant 
ornament. The double kind is increafed by fips, 
taken from the rootin March. The fingle flowering 
kind may be propagated by the fame means, or raifed 
in March from feeds, which bloffom the firft year. 
An open fituation, and a light foil, are mof proper 
for their cultivation. suf 
CROCUS. 
Tus early flower,.asif anxious to fhare with the 
{nowdrop .in cheering the departing gloom of winter, 
appears in January and February, but not tobe a 
mere f{pectacle of beauty ; it produces a moft ufeful 
fubftance, which is faffron. The fhape of the flower 
refembles the lily. It poffeffes an agreeable {fcent. 
Confidering its cheerful afpect, when tew flowers ap- 
pear, and its producing fo, valuable an eflence, it is 
rather a wonder it fhould not be more cultivated in 
our gardens. ‘The true crocus is rather to be multi- 
plied by the root than by its feed. It requiresa rich 
foil, and ought to be planted in a fate expofed to 
the foffering rays of the fun. as 
o 
af 
Lory 
