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KDITOIVS TAIU.i: 



difitant tliundor, y«t the sky displays no tluindor-clouds. Wlint can it bof In (he forest, there, 

 just at the Ofljie of the cedar Bwninp, elevated on a fallen lo<^, is the aiitlior of the nrivsterious 

 sound ; it is a drummer — the male of the nitfed grous, commonly known bv the name of Cana- 

 dian palridge. He is beatinf); his breast with his expanded wings, and setting uji his shining 

 dark ruff, to allure a distant mate from the dejiths of the cednr swamp. H<- jins been fteding 

 on the soft red berries of the (railing iirbulus, and etii}>piiig the red bark from the wild rasi)- 

 berries that grow on yonder uj)turnt'd roots. 



The tvergreens are ehanging their spiny leaves, and sending up new, vigorous shoots from the 

 end of every branch. The white piue shoots measure about fourteen inches. During the spring, 

 the last years shoot casts off its spiny eoverinir, and the new growth is seen, like a green tassel, 

 above it By measuring the length of the aiinu;il shoots of these trees, the age of a large pine 

 may be pretty nearly calculated. 



The catkins of the willows, birches, poplars, and aiders, come out during this month, if (he 

 season be not too severe. But there is often a great difference in the forwardness of vegetation 

 in (his month. In the year 1833 the woods were almost free of snow. In the beginning of April 

 sugar-making was nearly over; hepatieas, spring beauty, and violets of several colors were in 

 bloom ; and the leaves of the hard wood trees were many of them expanded by the 4th of May 

 That was the earliest spring that I remember. 1834 was like it; but on the 14th, 15th, and IGth 

 of May, the wind changed to the northwest, a severe frost bound up the earth, and snow fell to 

 a depth of several inches. The forest was out in leaf, and I had young chickens hatched, which 

 died, all but four, from cold. Nevertheless, we had a splendid summer, and many trees put out 

 new leaves — among these were willows and poplars. 



Of our earliest flowers, there is none that is more lovely to the eye than (he hejiatien, {Hepatica 

 Americana,) commonly called snow-flower by the Canadians. Its tufts of blue, pale pink, and 

 white blossom^, may be seen in warm April*, on every grassy mound, on turfy knolls formed by 

 the wind-fallen tree?, by way-side fences, and in the partially cleared forest, its starry flowers 

 waving with every gentle breath that passes ovei' them. What the daisy is to the English 

 meadows, the hepatica is to our Canadian clearings — it is a harbinger of spring. 



" It tells us that winter, cold winter, is past, 

 And that spring, lovely spring, is returning at last." 



Of all the early Canadian flowers, I love the prett}' hepatica best. Next, and by many most 

 admired, is spring beauty, {Claytonia viryinica.) Its delicate, gi'aceful, striped pink bells may be 

 seen during the latter part of April, on sunny meadows. It loves the shelter of old decaying 

 timbers, and is often to be found just peeping from beneath the overshadowing side of a mossy 

 log, yet willing to expand its petals towards the warm sunshine. It was among the first spring 

 flowers that attracted my attention. About the same time comes forth, in rich, moist soil, just 

 at the edge of the forest, and even encroaching a little within its bounds, the pure white flowers 

 of the Sanguinarla, or blood-root. It breaks the ground folded within its vine-shaped leaf, ■which 

 is veined with pale orange color ; and if broken, both leaf and stem and root exudes a bright 

 scarlet juice. It is with this that the Indian squaw dies the orange and red tints in her basket?, 

 mats, and quills. The flower, on a small scale, resembles the white crocus. It was among my 

 first favorites. The Enithroniitm, or dog's tooth violet — that very elegant single flowered lil}" — 

 comes next ; and then there are some early life-everlastings, and violets white and blue, and low- 

 stemmed creeping ranunculus, with many other small and less attractive flowers. 



As the snow melts away, the green leaves of many plants that have been nursed by its friendly 

 covering maybe seen. The various species of wintergrcens, the delightful Pyrolus and Chima- 

 philla, the creeping arbutus, Mitchella repens, (thorn-berry) and the sweet, spicy wintergreen 

 with its gciy red berries and shiny leaves, all as fresh and vigorous as (hough they had been 

 perfecting their winter toilet within the sheltered canopy of their snowy chamber to do honor to 

 the new-born spiing. 



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