WILD FLOWERS OF MARCH. 



impressed upon our memory. So furious was the 

 rush of the wind over the summit, that we were un- 

 able to stand against it, and clung prostrate to the 

 rock for security, while its vehement thunder ren- 

 dered it impossible for us to hear each other speak. 

 But the scene to the eye, looking towards the Cam- 

 brian mountains, was peculiarly impressive, for covered 

 with snow, their indented chains belted the wide 

 horizon in bold relief against a cloudless azure sky, 

 ridge beyond ridge, to the extremest bound of vision, 

 in majestic perspective, effacing for the moment the 

 keen perception of the bitter cold of the blast, and its 

 tremendous power. 



With regard to plants and flowers, our more legi- 

 timate province, we only undertake to strike the 

 averages of the seasons, premising that any flowers 

 we mention may be met with in bloom, in England or 

 "Wales, in some portion of the month under which 

 our observations appear. The garden now begins to 

 " look up," and rows of glowing yellow Crocuses give 

 an evanescent splendour to its borders, especially if 

 the sun shines ; for otherwise, though unable to 

 " droop the languid lid," they sulkily refuse to open 

 their coloured petals at all. The vernal Crocus might 

 indeed have been mentioned in February, but it is 

 now, when the different species or varieties are seen 

 in unison the yellow, the cloth of gold, the pale lilac, 

 the striped, and the blue that the most beautiful 

 picture is brought before the eye. All the Crocuses 

 continue blowing throughout March, and more than 

 thirty varieties are cultivated in the Horticultural 

 Society's Garden, at Chiswick. " Early in Lent," 

 says Mr. FOESTEE, " we frequently see Crocuses 



