NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 227 



Of all the propensities of plants, none seem more strange than 

 their different periods of blossoming. Some produce their flowers 

 in the winter, or very first dawnings of spring ; many when the 

 spring is established; some at midsummer, and some not till 

 autumn. When we see the helleborus fcetidus and helleborus niger 

 blowing at Christmas, the helleborus hy emails in January, and the 

 helleborus viridis as soon as ever it emerges out of the ground, 

 we do not wonder, because they are kindred plants that we 

 expect should keep pace the one with the other ; but other conge- 

 nerous 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 autumnal 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 discern any difference in the corolli, or in the internal struc- 

 ture. 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 autum- 

 nal (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 difficult to be ex- 

 plained as the most stupendous phenomenon in nature. 



" Say, what impels, amidst surrounding snow 

 Congeal'd; the crocus' flamy bud to glow? 

 Say, what retards, amidst the summer's blaze, 

 Th' autumnal bulb, till pale, declining days ? 

 The GOD of SEASONS ; whose pervading power 

 Controls the sun, or sheds the fleecy shower : 

 He bids each fl )wer his quickening word obey, 

 Or to each lingering bloom enjoins delay. " 



