Over the Huckleberry Plains 121 



hills and vales far below us near Williamstown. White 

 Oaks is a remote corner of Pownal, lying, however, 

 partly in Williamstown in northern Berkshire, a 

 region locally noted for the earliest arbutus blossoms. 



In nearly all the swamps I have visited, I have 

 found a long procession of flowers marching close upon 

 each other through the seasons,— from the trailing ar- 

 butus and the snowy dogwood blossoms in early April, 

 to the golden-rod and asters of the late October days. 

 Even as late as December 8th I have found the dainty 

 dandelions and violets running wild with glee, only to 

 be frozen before sunrise the following morning. It can 

 be said that in some seasons different flowers bloom 

 nearly every month, in the Hoosac Highlands, if the 

 Transcript's reports be true. 



"On February i, 1900, some trailing arbutus was 

 brought from the woods. There is usually a little 

 strife in the spring for the distinction of bringing these 

 first flowers, but Mr. Briggs has forestalled all the 

 flower hunters this year by his January discovery, 

 which is most unusual." ^ 



I have collected March arbutus in the White Oaks 

 as early as the 12th, although never in January or 

 February. Indeed, there come many arbutus days 

 long before April and May, if only we go abroad to 

 realize them in the warm, sunny glens among the Ta- 

 conic Hills, where the cold winds never blow in March. 



' Clipping from The Transcript, North Adams, Mass., Feb., 

 1900. 



