14 GARDEN FLOWEKS. 



species of yelloAV crocus bloom now, but the 

 kind especially termed the spring crocus 

 (Orocus vermis) which often opens in January, 

 has usually white flowers tinged Avith purple, 

 or is striped with purple and gold, or Avith a 

 delicate tinge of lilac, softening into pure wliite. 

 This flower, which is a native of Switzerland 

 and Italy, is called by the French le safran 

 printanier. The true saffi-on crocus, however, 

 blooms in autumn. The species which blooms 

 earliest in the spring, is the Scotch crocus, 

 {Crocus biflorus,) striped with white and pur- 

 ple. The beautiful kinds of feathered crocus, 

 are varieties altered more or less by cultiva- 

 tion, but all included under the names of party- 

 coloured crocus, (Crocus versicolor.) This 

 flower is a native of southern Europe, and very 

 abundant on the hills of Greece. Rich saw 

 both pink and yellow crocuses growing wild in 

 Koordistau, all over the roads. Gardeners 

 enumerate about a hundred kinds of the 

 crocus. It was introduced into England about 

 the time of Queen Elizabeth. Gerarde says 

 of it, " That pleasant plant that bringeth forth 

 yellow flowers, was sent unto me from Robinus 

 of Paris." 



Then the mezereon, (Daphne mezereum,) 

 though a shrub of our native woods, is rare 

 enough to be planted in our gardens, because 

 it flowers at this early season. The Pontic 

 Daphne, too, (Daphne Pontica,) -with its dark 

 evergreen shining leaves, and its wreath of 

 green Avinter flowers, often finds a place there. 



