CROCHLES. 
and about a fortnight in the conditions of pupa 
and imago; so that it has an entire existence of 
only about six or seven weeks. But the species 
propagates throughout a long season; and all 
conditions of it may be simultaneously observed 
on and around one asparagus plant. The perfect 
insect is very cunning; for the instant it is ap- 
proached, it turns to the under side of the stem ; 
and, if disturbed, it drops down and feigns death. 
Some asparagus beds are completely destroyed 
by it ; and even when some pains have been taken 
to extirpate it, many plants, when full grown, 
are quite denuded by it of their foliage. As many 
individuals of it as possible should be found out 
and destroyed at the time of the asparagus being 
cut; and the rest or their offspring might pro- 
bably be frightened away by densely shady growths 
of pease, or densely shady screens of pine branches. 
The insect certainly has a strong aversion to both 
shade and moisture.—Seven or eight other spe- 
cies of Crioceris occur in Britain ; and some prin- 
cipal genera of Coleoptera are included in the 
Crioceridee family. 
CRITHMUM. See Sampurre. 
CROCHLES. A variety of acute rheumatism, 
attacking cattle which are depastured on moist 
or marshy soil. An animal affected by it suffers 
pain in the feet, particularly the fore-feet, ex- 
periences enlargement of the small joints of the 
limbs, becomes hide-bound, suffers such contrac- 
tion and enfeeblement of the hind-quarters as to 
be unable to walk or even to stand, and finally 
lies in one posture, loses appetite, becomes all 
over ulcerated, and dies. The grand remedy is, 
as soon as the disease is observed, to remove the 
affected animal to dry soil and kindly pasture. 
See the article RorUMATISM. 
CROCUS. A genus of beautifully-flowering, 
low-growing, hardy, tuberous-rooted plants, of the 
iris order. The spring species, C. vernus, grows 
wild in Switzerland, Piedmont, the Tyrol, Carin- 
thia, Naples, the south of Europe, and the mea- 
dows of some parts of England. “In the neigh- 
bourhood of Nottingham,” remarks Howitt, “the 
vernal crocus covers many acres of meadow land 
with its bloom, gleaming at a distance like a per- 
fect flood of lilac, rivalling whatever has been 
sung of the fields of Enna.” The coat of its bulb 
is finely netted; and its flowers have no odour, 
and are free from hairiness in the throat. The 
normal plant has purple-coloured flowers, but 
very numerous varieties have sprung from it, 
which boast the rank of florists’ flowers, and ex- 
hibit a great diversity of well-marked and very 
beautiful tintings. Loudon enumerates twenty- 
nine botanically named varieties with purple and 
lilac flowers, two with purple feathered flowers, 
four with spotted flowers, three with striped lilac 
flowers, twenty with striped grey flowers, two. 
with white flowers, ten with striped white flow- 
ers, and five with purple flowers and a late habit. 
The party-coloured species, C. versicolor, grows 
CROFTER. 899 
parts of Provence, and was introduced to Britain 
during the former half of the 17th century. It 
disputes pre-eminence with the preceding spe- 
cies as a favourite spring crocus; and has also 
the recommendation, though to a less extent, of 
comprising numerous varieties. The coat of its 
bulb is not circularly cut; and its flower has a 
sweet scent anda hairy throat. Loudon enum- 
erates three botanically - named varieties of it 
with striped grey flowers, four with striped pur- 
ple flowers, three with striped lilac flowers, and 
fourteen with striped white flowers. — About 
twenty other exotic spring species, besides about 
as many varieties, have been introduced to 
Britain ; and most of these have either yel- 
low, white, or party-coloured flowers; but more 
than one-half have been long known, and do not 
rival C. vernus and C. versicolor in popular favour. 
All the spring crocuses may be regarded as Feb- 
ruary-flowerers; but a few are constitutionally 
later than the rest, and most are powerfully ac- 
celerated or retarded by situation and weather. 
Four autumnal species, C. sativus, C. nudiflorus, 
CO. serotinus, and C. Pallasiz,—the last with lilac- 
coloured flowers, and the other three with violet- 
coloured flowers,—occur in gardens, and, though 
not contemporaneous in the commencing of their 
bloom, may all be seen in flower toward the end 
of September. Two of them, C. nudifiorus and 
C. sativus, occur wild in England; and the latter 
of these is extensively cultivated in Essex and 
Cambridgeshire. for its produce in saffron. See 
the article SArrron. 
A crocus will grow almost anywhere, and, not 
only without culture, but in defiance of very bad 
treatment. Yet crocuses, in order to be in fine 
condition and to produce their best effect, require 
the exercise of both a little care and a little 
judgment. If planted, in lines or clumps, three 
inches deep, and two inches or three from plant | 
to plant, in light rich earth, they will bloom 
abundantly, multiply rapidly, and make a fine 
appearance. They are commonly planted in 
lines near the edgings of flower borders, and in 
clumps or irregular dispositions in lawns. Their 
bulbs ought to be taken up, separated, and re- 
distributed at least every three years, else they 
will become too crowded to obtain a proper sup- 
ply of nourishment.—Seed-sowing for new varie- 
ties of crocus would be a good amusement for 
some idle amateurs. The seeds do best when 
sown fresh-gathered, and in light, dry, porous 
soil. . 
CROFT. A field in a state of commonage; 
also, a cottager’s enclosure, usually of the size of 
a large field, with the cottage and a garden at 
one end. A croft, in the latter sense, differs 
little from an Irish farm, but is usually in better 
condition and under better management. ; 
CROFTER. The occupant of an allotment of 
land, of the extent and nature of a croft. Crofters 
have, in numerous instances, been settled on waste 
lands which no ordinary farmer would rent, and 
wild in the vicinity of Nice and in all the eastern 
| ae s Susie 
