SPRING FLOWERS 161 



however, be effected here even more readily than in the case of 

 the Daffodil. The interest of the comparison of the two flowers 

 lies in the fact that with very similar structure one is adapted 

 to pollination by moths, and the other to pollination by large- 

 bodied bees. Their study from this point of view is most in- 

 structive. 



When a flower is fertilised the corolla withers and falls off, 

 leaving the ovary, which enlarges and becomes the fruit. This 

 is a dry capsule with three chambers, in each of which are two 

 rows of smooth, black seeds. When ripe the fruit opens by 

 splitting into three valves, with the seeds attached to their inner 

 faces. The seeds fall off, but show no special arrangements for 

 conveyance to a distance. 



The Daffodil is well suited for thorough study, since it can 

 readily be grown from the bulbs either in bowls or pots or in the 

 garden, and the whole course of its annual history followed. 

 One plant thoroughly studied in this way will be found of more 

 value in awakening an interest in nature knowledge than a 

 number hastily looked at. 



THE BLUE GARDEN CROCUS (Crocus vernus, AIL). 



The structure of the Crocus may be studied either in the 

 Blue Garden Crocus (Crocus vernus) or the Yellow Garden Crocus 

 (C. aureus), both of which are grown in every garden for the sake 

 of their flowers. These appear in February and March. If plants 

 of the Saffron Crocus (C. sativus) are cultivated in the neighbour- 

 hood its flowers may be studied in the autumn months. This 

 plant is cultivated for the sake of saffron, which is obtained from 

 the lobes of the stigmas, and was formerly grown on a large scale 

 at Saffron Walden. The mode of growth of the Crocus is shown 

 by all these plants, which differ in such details as number of 

 leaves, colour of flowers, etc., but are constructed on the same plan. 

 The description will be based especially upon the Blue Garden 

 Crocus, which is grown in many varieties, some of which have the 

 perianth violet-blue with deeper veins, others have only the veins 

 coloured, while other varieties are white. 



The underground part of the Crocus, which is situated some 



VOL. III. II 



