EXPLOEATOET NOTICES FOE MAECH. 



In this month the underwood of forests and cop- 

 pices is generally felled to a great extent, so that the 

 opportunity should be taken of penetrating woods not 

 before easily accessible, even by the botanical foot. 

 Additional habitats will thus be obtained for many 

 rare plants; for when a grove has extended its sombre 

 dominion over the ground for a number of years, the 

 constant gloom and exclusion of light renders the soil 

 incapable of producing those plants formerly abound- 

 ing there. Seeds of them, it is true, remain in the 

 deep dungeon of the earth, but each successive year 

 only increases the profundity of their incarceration, 

 by adding a thick damp layer of fallen leaves to the 

 surface of the soil where they lie concealed. At 

 length, the sound of the woodman's axe resounds in 

 the woody glen, the crash of falling branches is heard 

 on all sides, and the beetle and wedges commence 

 their dinning labours. 



" The woodman is loudly calling, 



The beetle and wedges he brings ; 

 For the oak is mark'd for falling 



That has stood five hundred springs ! 

 Hark ! a blow, and a dull sound follows ; 



A second he bows his head ; 

 A third and the wood's dark hollows 



Proclaim that their king is dead ! 



Then it is that the cleared ground once more ex- 

 posed to the influences of light and air, reproduces 



