OCTOBER 251 



the crocus is an Irid. Moreover, the colchicum contains 

 in all its parts a very powerful alkaloid poison, which is 

 used in medicine. There are about thirty species of 

 Colchicum, in cultivation, besides many species; but he 

 who grows G. speciosum, the great rose-coloured kind 

 from the Caucasus, and the white variety of C. autumnale, 

 a native species, need not concern himself with the rest. 

 But he must consult the idiosyncrasy of each. While 

 the native Colchicum and its white variety revel in 

 deep, cool soil, C. speciosum prefers a sun-baked soil, 

 whence, incited by the autumn rains, it sends up profusion 

 of tulip-like blossoms. 



Visitors to Switzerland in autumn must be familiar 

 with the countless flowers of the common Colchicum, that 

 deck the mountain pastures; but they will do well to 

 leave them alone. I sat one evening beside a young lady 

 at a table d'hdte in the Engadine. She complained of a 

 violent headache, which she attributed to the sun. 'I 

 venture to think,' quoth I, pointing to a bunch of colchi- 

 cum flowers in the bosom of her dress, ' that the cause of 

 your headache is not ninety-two millions of miles distant.' 

 She threw the flowers away, and in a short time the head 

 was all right. 



True autumn crocuses there are also, many of them, 

 but Crocus speciosus from Eastern Europe is by far the 

 best of the bunch a lovely thing with blue-violet 

 blossoms and rich orange styles protruding. It is as 

 easily grown as a spring crocus : yet one may go through 

 a hundred gardens and never behold the glorious display 

 of this plant with its crowded flowers expanded in the 

 sunshine. 



I have been puzzled for long to understand why 



