MONTHLY CALENDAR. 2Ii 



tine's flower, the crocus, — blue, yellow, and white, already show themselves, 

 and the snowdrop lifts its modest head, inducing one to ask, — 



" What impels, amid surrounding snow 

 Conpeal'd, the crocus's flamy bud to glow ? 

 Or what retards, amidst the summer's blaze, 

 The autumnal bulb till pale declining days ? " 



549. "Winter and the first dawn of spring offers the best opportunity for 

 witnessing the rich effects produced by moss and lichens upon the trees ; and 

 even ivy -covered trees are a pleasing variety at this season, with their 

 gaudy mingling of green and orange and silvery hues, although lichens, 

 moss, and ivy, are fatal to the hopes of fruit from the tree, and must be 

 iiithlossly expelled from the habitat they have selected. Among the flowering 

 shrubs, the mezereon and spurge laurel show a low flowers, the lingering 

 Christmas rose will still appear, and some of the veronicas will now show 

 their welcome blossoms, indicating that spring is close at hand, 



550. The mean temperature of February is nearly two degrees higher than. 

 January, and the average number of frosty nights is about eleven. Less 

 rain falls this month than in any other, and hoar-frosts at this season generally 

 precede it. 



§ 2.— Operations in the Flower-Garden and Shrubbery. 



551. This has been called the reviving month, but it is best when ita 

 vivifying influence is confined to the roots of plants, as a mild February is 

 often the precursor of a fruitless, flowerless summer. No matter, then, if our- 

 favourites are arrested in their efforts to grow by the hard granite-like grip of 

 the frost, or hidden from view beneath a fleecy covering of snow. If we 

 cannot see them, we know that they are safe, and are compensated for their 

 absence by the spiritual-like beauty, grace, and grandeur, of every twig, 

 laden with its pure white covering of snow, or silvered over with a frost-work, 

 of glittering glory. As the sun rises on such scenes — 



" Every shrub and every blade of grass. 

 And every pointed thorn seem wrought in glass ; 

 In pearls and rubies rich the hawthorns show. 

 While through the ice the hoDy-berries glow." 



Gratitude and admiration of the beauty within our reach will be the best 

 preparation for hard work when labour becomes possible, and for appreciating 

 the beauty of the flowers, as they awake and come forth from their winter's 

 sleep. How varied the period and diverse the circumstances of their appearing. 

 No month so bleak, but some flowers en wreath it with beauty ; no blast so 

 harsh and keen, but it is tempered with the odour of some living plant. The^ 

 flowers of winter and spring, if not so numerous, are as pure and sweet as. 

 those of June ; they encircle the year with an unbroken girdle of glory, and 

 become ministering angels of floral beautj^, to teach us the great lesson, that, 

 duty, well performed^ imparts dignity to the lowest station, and perfumes the, 



p2 



