NATURAL HISTORY. 249 
fodil thrives beft in a rich foil, with which the bulbs 
need only be covered: it fhould not be much ex- 
poted to the fun, fromthe flower deriving moft 
beauty from the laténefs of its appearance. The 
bulbs fhould be fet about four fingers diftant from 
each other, in order to afford fuficient room for their 
expanfion. It fhould be removed.every three years. 
“Lhey flower in March. 
— ope NCMERG spo — 
COLCHICUM, or MEADOW SAF. 
FRON, | 4 
ds fo called from its growing in Colchis, 2 country 
in the neighbourhood of the kingdom of Pontus, fa- 
trous for the fable of the golden apples, and the gold- 
ext ficece. It is faid to be fo ftrong a poifon'as to kill 
cogs, from which quality it is called Dog’s bane. Of 
the meadow faffron there is a variety of fpecies. Its 
general defcription is, being a plant that fhoots from 
its root five or fix oblong ieaves, about an inch broad, 
t:nooth, and of a brownifh green. Amid thefe leaves 
rifes the ftalk, bearing at the top a yellow fingle leav- 
ed flower like a pipe, and cut into fix parts. The 
Colchium will grow in any foil. It is multiplied by 
thulbs, which are produced every year in abundance. 
‘s hey fhould be planted in pots or borders, and tranf- 
planted in July ; in which (tate they fhould lie until 
veptember. ‘They flower in March. 
