598 Handbook of N ature-Study 



3. Describe the leaves. How are they folded in their overcoats!* 

 What color are they where they have pushed out above their overcoats? 

 What color are they within the overcoats ? Why ? 



4. Do the flowers or the leaves have stems, or do they arise directly 

 from the bulb ? 



5. What is the shape of the open crocus flower? Can you tell the 

 difference between sepals and petals in color? Can you tell the difference 

 by their position? Or by their texture above or below? As you look 

 into the flower, which make the points of the triangle, the sepals or the 

 petals? 



6. Describe the anthers. How long are they? How many are there? 

 Howdo they open? What is the color of the pollen? Describe hovr a bee 

 becomes dusted with pollen? Why does the bee visit the crocus blOGSOni? 

 If she finds nectar there, where is it ? 



7. Describe the stigma. Open a flower and see how long the styloid? 

 How do the sepals and petals unite to protect the style? Where JS the 

 seed-box? Is it so far down that it is below ground? Hov/ maiiy seeds 

 are developed from a single blossom? 



8. How many colors do you find in the crocus flowerG? Which 9£0 

 the prettiest in the lawn? Which, in the flower beds? 



9. Hqw do the crocus blossoms act in dark and Stormy wci^thc?? 

 When do they open? How does this benefit them? 



10. How do the crocus bulbs multiply? Why do they lift thcniScSveS 

 out of the ground and thus need resetting. 



11. Describe how to raise crocuses best; the kind of Goil, the oinie of 

 planting, and the best situations. 



Out of the frozen earth below, 

 Out of the melting of the snow. 



No flower, but a film, I push to light; 

 No stem, no bud — yet I have burst 

 The bars of winter, I am the first 



Sun, to greet thee out of the night! 



> in the warm sleep underground 

 Life is still, and the peace profound: 

 Yet a beam that pierced, and a thrill that smote 

 Call'd me and drew mc from far away; 

 I rose, I came, to the open day 



I have won, unshelter'd, alone, remote. 



— "The Crocus," by Harriet E. H. King. 



When first the crocus thrusts its point of gold, 

 Up through the still snow-drifted garden-mould, 

 A nd folded green things in dim woods unclose 

 Their crinkled spears, a sudden tremor goes 

 Into my veins and makes me kith and kin 

 To every wild-born thing that thrills and blows. 



— "A Touch of Nature," by T. B. ALDRici. 



