II 



The Yellow Crocus ^ 



WHILST the Snowdrop enters 

 with so quiet a footstep that 

 it might almost pass unob- 

 served amidst the remnants 

 of the melting snow, the Crocus bursts 

 upon us in a blaze of colour like the sun- 

 rise of the flowers. 'PoSoSaKTvXoi 'Hmy, the 

 " rosy- fingered dawn " of spring, are the 

 words which rise to our lips instinctively 

 as we look upon it. Most gladsome of 

 the early flowers ! None gives more glow- 

 ing welcome to the season, or strikes on 

 our first glance with a ray of keener plea- 

 sure when, with some bright morning's 

 warmth, the solitary golden fingers have 

 kindled into knots of thick-clustered yellow 

 bloom on the borders of the cottage 

 garden. At a distance the eye is caught 



' Examine good out-of-door specimens, and avoid as 

 much as possible the later blossoms of the season, which 

 are often very faulty. 



i8 



