1899] Rich, — Winter botanizing IT 
I have confidence that the scant record for these two months can be 
increased as future opportunities offer for more extended observations, 
and doubtless some of the readers of RHODORA may be able to add to 
the number. 
March, though sometimes in New England one of the severest of the 
winter months, offers so many plants in flower, especially toward the 
latter part, that a list of them would not be of especial interest. 
There is other and more important work, however, in winter botaniz- 
ing, than the mere enumeration of such chance flowers as a mild season 
may offer as a reward for the botanist's constant attention. Many fruits 
of trees and shrubs can now be collected and studied with better ad- 
vantage than was possible earlier in the season. A hitherto much 
neglected subject for study is that of the winter state of our trees and 
shrubs, one to which increasing attention is now being given. It is sur- 
prising how few of them can be readily recognized by even the most com- 
petent botanist, and the collection and study of specimens of bark, twigs, 
and buds in their winter state will be found full of interest. The com- 
plete herbarium must show specimens of these in addition to leaves and 
flowers. 
Another subject for study in winter botanizing is the observation of 
the radical leaves and basal shoots of herbs, some of which differ so 
much at this stage from those which we are accustomed to associate 
with the plant as to be very puzzling, and furnish material for collecting 
on many a winter walk. 
While engaged in his occasional winter outings, in these and other 
kindred occupations, the botanist will soon have his attention attracted 
to other objects of most fascinating interest. On the lowlands, as he 
passes along on a sunshiny day in late February and March he will sud- 
denly see, in the gleaming olive of a row of Willow shrubs and in the 
brilliant red of the Blueberry bushes, on a rocky hillside, signs that will 
remind him of the approach of another season, and as he stands upon 
the threshold of a new springtime, before he becomes engulfed in its 
rising tide of life, he would linger yet a little longer in the enjoyment of 
the winter's offerings. 
BosToN. 
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