THE AUTUMN CROCUS 135 



clear the ground in anticipation of its scheduled 

 ad\'ent ; and, should this not have been the case, 

 one wonders if at that time it were an inhabitant 

 of such fields as these, or whether it were denizened 

 in more propitious places ? 



For as soon as the haymakers have gone their 

 way, this lovely flower begins its apparition. Often, 

 even within a week of the haymakers' visit, hun- 

 dreds upon hundreds of its creamy-white pointed 

 buds will show as if by magic above the close turf ; 

 and after a day or two more of sunshine, the fields 

 will have regained what is almost springtime life 

 and gaiety. Many of us were sighing whilst we 

 watched the scythe's disastrous progress, and were 

 saying that all was over and it was time to be 

 moving plainwards ; but those of us who knew, 

 said : " Wait — wait ! These fields have yet another 

 trump-card to play ! " 



" What awe and worship follow in her wake, 

 When Nature works wild magic all her own ! " 



A week ago we looked for colour to the autumn- 

 infected bush and tree, and now quite suddenly, 

 over the tired fields, there steals a pale magenta 

 glow, almost as the spring-glow spread by the 

 Bird's-Eye or Mealy Primrose ; a week ago we 



