245 
manufactured there from the pointals of the Crocus, has 
acquired the name of Saffron Walden. 
This delicate flower is now generally distributed over 
England, though in many parts it flourishes in far greater- 
luxuriance than irr otlrers. In sonre districts of Herefordshire 
arrd Shropshire (as I am infornred by a frierrd, whose 
Autumn rambles led him among much of the picturesque 
scenery of both counties), this Crocus grows irr such pro¬ 
fusion, as to clothe the fields and hills in orre beautiful robe 
of amethyst. Nor is it to be disregarded, even when flower¬ 
ing less abundantly, for in our meadows and gardens a few 
groirps of its delicate bells for-rn at this season a precious 
treasure. 
The econonry of the Autrrnrn Crocus is extremely ciir-ious. 
The flowers appearing so late in the year, when the seeds 
could not be ripened by ex]rosure to the sun and air, an 
entirely diflererrt organization is adopted by nature for the 
propagation of the plant; the fructificatiorr takes place under 
ground, and the following Spring the seed vessels rise to the 
surface, accompanied by leaves, which do not apjDear with 
the flower in Autumn. 
Spenser weaves in the Saffron Crocus very gi-acefully, in 
the following group of flowers in his translation of “Vu-gil’s 
Gnat:”— 
And round about he taught sweet floures to growe; 
The rose engrained in pure scarlet die; 
The Lilly fresh; and Violet belowe; 
The Marigold; and cheerful Rosemarie; 
