55 
NOTES— BOTANY. 
Are Crocus vernus and C. Snooty natives of England P—While 
I should very much like to claim C. nudiflorus as pik in to this country, facts 
must not be overlooked. To cn botanists ‘iden who see it at visi i leaves 
in spring, and its flowers in n, yea er pr rin the mead n great 
profusion, at no less than seven D diffe rent shuitibns within a radius of thi or four 
miles ei the town of Halifax, there is every appearance of this interesting naked- 
In bey ear 1775 a ‘History of the es eect id tisrge by the Rev. J. 
Watson, eas published. Included _in this valua ork is ‘A Catalogue of 
Plants growing in the Parish of Halifax,’ cata with copious notes. 
i of 
illustrated work on Fungi, entitled ‘A History of the Fungus gro (ai, 3 in * € 
Parish of Halifax.’ From see notes accompanying the des nl i 
catalogue above mentioned, it is evident that the compiler left no aigviet cnvsted 
nor spared any pains to make is “oe s complete as possible. Had s ich 
an attractive flower as C. nudifiorus been growing wild in the meadows of 9 our 
district in his time as we ‘a it now, it is very unlikely that ‘s thorough a worker 
Ww ave overlooked 
_ According to Lees’ West Yorkshire Flora, the first record for it in ne West 
Riding is by W. Wood ( 1805) in ‘ Pastures near Halifax.’ It appears to have 
held its ground aha well since first noticed. _ Halifax is the only ep the 
Ww. Riding, except a near Sheffield, 
where it has been found. ae CROSSLAND, 4, Coleniige Street, Halifax, Jan. 13th. 
Are Crocus vernus and C. nudiflorus natives of England ?—In reply 
to the query, F take a directly opposite view from that of the querist. Many 
ago when the physician’s art was in its infancy, or at least when the = perfection he 
i t 
exercised in the treatment of dis was unknown, the style and stigma of these 
plants, under e a § n, were in- considerable demand for various 
u pecially as do ic re t wa 
’ Crocus (i w of one of the old her 1 
last century) yields a very profitable kind of produce, consequently it was cultivated, 
in s present English habitats. Saffr SEX, 
obtains its prenomen from this fact. At Beverley, in rel beget Riding, are two 
rass fields, which have been known to the residents for many years as the 
g 
“Crocus fields,’ and there C. vernus grows in profusion. — Traction states that they 
Ww be enti 
e pu 
Dr. Payne, I reject the theory that they are the outcasts from gardens, 
and as such have become established in their present position. All the herbals 
o 
greatly in favour of their ee into our flora.—J. J. MARSHALL, Pharma- 
.S.O., Jan. , 1892. 
The Crocuses in No ae Meadows.—As it is only a question of a 
few eo? before the final disappearance of these wild ptioy it would perhaps 
be as to place on record as much information as possible —— to — 
Stone ty oe to reside in Nottingham, fifteen years ago, I have seen their haunt 
t the present =a a Midland 
me 
Owing to the subsidence of the — age quent o} 1 mining 
locality on the opposite side of the Tre West ignedn ery is entirely built over, 
rel oite the only stron: hold w ill be 68 field weigaoont: the new Forest Football 
>t rent bridge. 
fourteen years ag: a. was curious e h to dig up one or two bulbs for 
examination, and, to my p tl I found I T hed to have recourse to a long table 
Feb, 18 182. 
