on 
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When the buds on the winter branches have swelled 
the least little bit, after a few warm days in February 
perhaps, go to the woods and cut several branches 
in places where no one will miss them, and take them 
home and put them in warm water, in a warm, bright 
corner, and see what happens. 
It will be a real joy to you, watching these little buds 
get bigger and bigger, till the outer wrappings are 
forced apart, and either thrown well aside, or pushed 
off altogether; and you will be filled with delight when 
the delicate baby leaves begin to stretch themselves, or, 
better still, when the pure, beautiful flowers burst from 
the brown, dead-looking twigs. 
Get branches of cherry, apple, peach, and pear; and 
bring in the pussy willow, the maple, the /orsy¢hza, the 
spicebush, and, if you can find it, the mountain laurel ; 
and if you do not pass many moments of almost breath- 
less pleasure watching the wonders these budding 
branches are so eager to reveal, you are not the chil- 
dren I take you to be. 
SOME ASTONISHING BUDS 
HERE are some plants which do not put any 
winter wraps on their delicate buds; and, strangely 
enough, these buds do not seem to suffer for lack of 
clothing. 
In a warm country this would not surprise us. If we 
were going to spend the winter in the West Indies, we 
DANA’S PLANTS. — 9 
