SEPTEMBEE. 381 



In inoist spots, too, the Soapwort (Saponaria officina- 

 lis), shows its roseate petals glistening with dew; and 

 the Virgin's Bower (Clematis vitalbd), trails its pale 

 starry globes in assembled multitudes upon the 

 hedges-, or about limestone rocks. But the most cer- 

 tain indication of the approach of Autumn is shown 

 by the pale purple petals and long white tubes of the 

 Autumnal Crocus or Meadow-saffron (Colchicum au- 

 tumnale), commonly called, though rather indelicately, 

 " Naked Ladies," which invariably presents itself in 

 moist meadows by the first of September and where 

 it abounds, as it does in profusion by the margin of 

 the Severn, and often in wild hilly places, far from the 

 haunt of busy life, the appearance it presents in wide 

 patches of delicate purple, like fairy islets amidst the 

 grassy aftermath, is truly beautiful. But, as is often 

 the case in the vegetable world, a moral lies shrouded 

 within this surface of beauty for destruction lurks 

 concealed in its lap. Its foliage is a most virulent 

 poison to cattle, and great numbers have been, at 

 various times, destroyed by eating its foliage. It is, 

 however, very remarkable, that the leaves and fruit 

 never appear till the following Spring after the flower; 

 and thus in .the Autumn, when the flowers only arise, 

 no danger is to be apprehended from them, and the 

 meadows where the plant abounds being seldom 

 grazed in the Spring, mischief is for the most part 

 avoided. Every agriculturist should be especially 

 careful that the capsule of the saffron, with its three 

 long ribbon-like leaves, is not present in the vernal 

 pastures where he turns his stock to graze, for if it be, 

 and the cattle have been long deprived of green food, 

 they will ravenously eat it, and fall down dead in a 

 very few hours after. 



