TRAILING ARBUTUS 



This is the famous Mayflower of New England, 

 whose delicate beauty and delightful fragrance have 

 given it a place not only in our literature but in our 

 hearts. Its distribution is so extensive and a personal 

 characteristic of forming its buds in the autumn so 



Trailing Arbutus. Epigaa ripens 



general that there have arisen heated controversies as 

 to the time of bloom. In the mountains of Virginia 

 it blooms in March and April, in northern Ohio in 

 April and May, and probably in New England its best 

 full bloom is in May, though, undoubtedly, it some- 

 times blooms in April. As a matter of fact, its buds 

 lie hidden beneath the dry leaves and protecting snow 

 all winter long, awaiting the summons of the sun. 



All in all, it is a most interesting plant and has been 

 recognized for two centuries as one of the sweetest of 

 spring's messengers, pushing its blossoms through and 

 among the dry brown leaves and almost beside the 

 lingering snow. The light-brown stems are woody and 



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