thick as nearly to touch each other. The effect will be the greatest if each bed be planted with bulbs bearing flowers of the same colour. A very good effect is produced when Crocuses are planted in borders by the side of a walk or drive, by arrang ing them in rows, each row of a different colour; or in small patches of ten to twenty bulbs, each patch being formed of a distinct colour.

NEW VARIETIES.-The Crocus has been rendered more attractive by the ingenious care and attention of the florist, who has raised several new varieties, in which the flower is larger, the shape more in conformity with an ideal perfection, and the colours finer. The amateur who is desirous of procuring for himself something new in this way, must not of course be too sanguine in his expectations; he will probably meet with many disappointments, but patient perseverance will be, no doubt, at the last rewarded. It seems to be granted that, in endeavouring to raise improved varieties of the Crocus, we must look for size and shape to the male parent, and for bright and distinct colours to the female. Having made choice of the species or varieties to be hybridized, and both flowers being in bloom, the pollen is removed from the flower to be operated upon, and the stigma is dusted, by means of a camel-hair pencil, with pollen from another flower possessing the required properties. The impregnated flowers are then covered with fine gauze, that no industrious bee or other insect, likely to bring undesired pollen, may approach the stigma. The seed soon ripens, and must therefore be watched and gathered in time. When the seed-vessels become yellow gather them,

and put them in a sheet of paper in a shaded and dry place, where the seed will gradually harden. When dry, separate the seed from the seed-vessels.

CHEVREUL'S ARRANGEMENT OF COLOURS FOR CROCUSES.-Crocuses may be easily obtained white, violet, and yellow: they should be planted in lines thus:— 1. Yellow, violet, yellow, violet, yellow, and so on. 2. Yellow, violet, white, yellow, and so on.

3. Yellow, white, violet, white, yellow, white, and

so on.

4. Yellow, violet, yellow, white, yellow, violet, yellow, "white, and so on.

5. Violet, yellow, violet, white, violet, yellow, and

so on.

Or a bed may be formed in patches, in the following

FORCING THE CROCUS.-The Crocus may be easily forced, but if subjected to too high a temperature, the probability is that they will be luxuriant only in leaves and deficient in flowers. The simplest mode, and one which is least likely to injure them, is to place them in a rich soil, and, if pots be used, in five-inch or six-inch

thick as nearly to touch each other. The effect will be the greatest if each bed be planted with bulbs bearing flowers of the same colour. A very good effect is produced when Crocuses are planted in borders by the side of a walk or drive, by arrang ing them in rows, each row of a different colour; or in small patches of ten to twenty bulbs, each patch being formed of a distinct colour.

NEW VARIETIES.-The Crocus has been rendered more attractive by the ingenious care and attention of the florist, who has raised several new varieties, in which the flower is larger, the shape more in conformity with an ideal perfection, and the colours finer. The amateur who is desirous of procuring for himself something new in this way, must not of course be too sanguine in his expectations; he will probably meet with many disappointments, but patient perseverance will be, no doubt, at the last rewarded. It seems to be granted that, in endeavouring to raise improved varieties of the Crocus, we must look for size and shape to the male parent, and for bright and distinct colours to the female. Having made choice of the species or varieties to be hybridized, and both flowers being in bloom, the pollen is removed from the flower to be operated upon, and the stigma is dusted, by means of a camel-hair pencil, with pollen from another flower possessing the required properties. The impregnated flowers are then covered with fine gauze, that no industrious bee or other insect, likely to bring undesired pollen, may approach the stigma. The seed soon ripens, and must therefore be watched and gathered in time. When the seed-vessels become yellow gather them,

pots, five or six bulbs in each pot, according to the size of the bulbs. This should be done about the beginning of October, and when the planting is finished, cover the pots over with coal-ashes until they have formed roots; then put them in a gentle heat, when they will bloom much earlier. The effect of the application of even moderate artificial heat is to weaken the bulbs, so that after being forced one year, they will require two years' rest in a nursery bed to recover their former vigour.

Crocuses may not only be grown in pots, or saucers, but there are beehives, hedgehogs, globes, etc., with holes at the sides and tops, through which it is intended that the foliage and flowers should make their way. In planting them in any of these, either moss, or sand, or rich mould may be used; and care must be taken to put each bulb directly under the hole from which it is to issue. After planting give them a good watering, and subsequently keep the mould, sand, or moss a little damp, until the bulbs are in a strong growing state, when a supply of water must be constantly given. They must be kept where there is no artificial heat, as on the staircase window, or in the window of a room without a fire, letting them have all the air and light possible. Towards the middle of January they may be placed, in the daytime, in the window of a room where there is a fire kept, and where they will have abundance of light: by this means the period of their flowering will be accelerated.

CROCUSES IN SWITZERLAND.-A correspondent of