THE CROCUS. 



Crocus vernm. 



HE season when the crocuses are in 

 their full splendour is pretty sure 

 ' to give us a glorious burst of sun- 

 shine for a day, or even a week, 

 and then the flowers expand to 

 their utmost, and- surprise us with 

 their splendour. They seem to 

 surprise the honey-bees no less, 

 for the music they make as they 

 brush up the pollen is just that of 

 a crowd of working people rendered 

 half delirious by the discovery of 

 a gold-mine. And, indeed, it is a 

 gold-mine to them, or, better still, 

 a bread-mine, for the pollen be- 

 comes " bee-bread " when carried 

 into the hive, and constitutes the 

 first food of the callow-worm hidden 

 in its cellular cot, and feeding itself 

 up to the point when it will emerge 

 as a perfect bee and join the general congregation. Bee- 

 keepers cannot have too many crocuses, because at the time 

 they flower the bees are more or less distressed and cannot 

 travel far, and it is of immense value to them to find 



