CROCUS. 
( Cheerfulness — Hope .) 
CCORDING to some authors, these bright little 
flowers, which 
“ Come before the swallow dares, 
And take the winds of March with beauty,” 
derive their name from a Greek word signifying thread, 
from the fact of their thread or filament being in such 
request for saffron dye. 
The Greeks fabled that Crocu, a beautiful youth, was 
transformed into this flower; as his lady-love, Smilax, 
was at the same time into a yew-tree. 
It is in England consecrated to St. Valentine. 
Bees are excessively fond of the crocus; and Moore 
thus alludes to this fact in Lalla Rookh . 
“ The busiest hive 
On Bela’s hills is less alive, 
When saffron-beds are full in flower,^ 
Than looked the valley in that hour.” 
Mrs. Howitt says of the purple crocus : 
“Like lilac flame its colour glows, 
Tender and yet so clearly bright, 
That all for miles and miles about 
The splendid meadow shineth out, 
And far-off village children shout 
To see the welcome sight.” 
