OF SELBORNE. 47 



rous vegetables differ so widely in their 

 time of flowering, that we cannot but 

 admire. I shall only instance at present in 

 the crocus sativus, the vernal, and the Au- 

 tumnal crocus, which have such an affinity, 

 that the best botanists only make them 

 varieties of the same genus, of which there 

 is only one species; not being able to dis- 

 cern any difference in the corolla, or in 

 the internal structure. Yet the vernal 

 crocus expands its flowers by the beginning 

 of March at farthest, and often in very 

 rigorous weather; and cannot be retarded 

 but by some violence offered : while the 

 autumnal (the Saffron) defies the influence 

 of the Spring and Summer, and will not 

 blow till most plants begin to fade and run 

 to seed. This circumstance is one of the 

 wonders of the creation, little noticed, 

 because a common occurrence : yet ought 

 not to be overlooked on account of its 

 being familiar, since it would be as diffi- 

 cult to be explained as the most stupendous 

 phenomenon in nature. 



