10 FLORA HISTORICA. 



the earth some bulbs of the Snowdrop that had 

 flowered in the spring, and on dissecting them care- 

 fully we generally discovered two inner bulbs 

 enclosed in several envelopes of coats, one of which 

 was uniformly deficient in a germ, but which 

 appeared as active in accumulating strength for a 

 future germ, as the forward one was in sending 

 forth its flower-stalk. The coats of the bulb are 

 easily separated from the stool to which the germ 

 is firmly attached, and from which the fibrous roots 

 spring. Some of these fibres appear to enter be- 

 tween the different coats of the bulb, and there form 

 other bulbs, which as they become matured, sepa- 

 rate themselves from the old bulb, when the fibres 

 that enter the earth decay, which takes place as 

 soon as the plant has completely perfected its seed. 

 At this time the bulb is full and rich in glutinous 

 moisture that nourishes the future flower for the 

 plant : it does not lay in the dormant state that is 

 generally imagined, but nature works so secretly 

 and constantly in the bulb, and with such wonder- 

 ful exactness, that we have frequently discovered a 

 perfectly formed plant and flower within the small 

 germ of this little root. 



If we could open and inliend our eye, 

 We all, like Moses, should espy, 

 Ev'n in a bush, the radiant Deity. 



Cowley. 



The common Snowdrop grows wild in some parts 



