184 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



tradicting the rules of nature, in considering 

 its parts of fructification as being an unne- 

 cessary appendage to the flower. 



This bulb, having the power of increasing 

 its species in the earth, is able to endure our 

 climate, but not to continue its species here 

 by its oviparous faculties. Coles says, in his 

 History of Plants, called " Adam in Eden," 

 that the crocus or saffron that flowers in 

 September, was brought out of Portugal to 

 this country, but it was most probably intro- 

 duced by the Romans, from their known at- 

 tachment to this medicine, and that the cul- 

 ture of it was discontinued on their leaving 

 England. The earliest accounts we have of 

 its being cultivated in England, mention, 

 that it was grown near a Roman road run- 

 ning through Essex ; it is therefore not im- 

 probable, but some of the bulbs might have 

 remained increasing in that and other neigh- 

 bourhoods for many ages, so as to give the 

 idea of their being indigenous to the soil; 

 and this may account for what is stated in 

 Hackluyt's Voyages*, " that the soil in Here- 

 fordshire yields the wild saffron commonly," 

 and may also justify what Dr. Withering as- 



* Vol. ii. p. 164, edit. 1599. 



