120 MEADOW SAFFRON. 



arrangement for tlieir protection from tlie frosts 

 and cold of winter. Most flowers have ripened 

 and dispersed their seeds before the cold sea- 

 son ; but as this flower appears so late in the 

 year its seeds would probably not have time 

 to be matured before winter ; and thus they 

 are secured within the bulb, at a depth from 

 the sm-face, where frost cannot harm them, 

 while at the proper season they rise to meet 

 the sun which shall ripen, and the wind which 

 shall scatter them. 



We have but one native species of Colchi- 

 cum, nor is this a common flower. The 

 genus received its name from Colchis, where 

 the plant was said to grow in great abundance. 

 The French call it Morte aux cJiiens, and it is 

 probably, in its fresh state, injurious to most 

 animals. It has been known from earliest 

 ages to possess very powerful medicinal pro- 

 perties, and is frequently given to allay the 

 pains of gout and rheumatism. It has been 

 employed as a substitute for the celebrated eau 

 medicinale. 



