CLIMATE. 37 



long. Winter is the season of social enjoyments of all kinds, 

 and is far from being unpleasant. Nothing can bo more exhi- 

 lerating than the bracin;,' air of a fine wintei''s day, with the hard 

 crisp snow under feet and a bright sun over head. The musical 

 tinkle of the sleigh-bells when driving over the frozen snow, and 

 the purity of the atmosphere add to the charms of the scene. 

 The snow jDreserves the ground from the infiuonce of the frosts, 

 and in April when it melts, the fitdds soon become fit for the 

 operations of the farmer. It is true tlie spring is late, owing to 

 the chilling influence of the Arctic current which washes the 

 eastern coast, and often 



•' Wiuter lingering chills the lap of May." 

 But once vegetation sets in it progresses with marvellous rapidity, 

 and crops grow and ripen much quicker than in the eastern 

 hemisjjhere. The frosts of winter too, aid the operations of the 

 husbandman and hel]) to pulverise the soil. The destructive 

 tornados and cyclones which often spread havoc in certain 

 portions of the North American continent are unknown in 

 Newfoiuullaml ; "Idizzards" are rare, and the Anieriean "cloud 

 burst" is never experienced. 



SILVKB THAW. 



There is one curious winter phenomenon which is often wit- 

 nessed — called here " silver thaw." When rain falls with a low- 

 state of the thermometer near the earth, it is congealed as it de- 

 scends, and thus a regular disposition of ice takes place on the 

 branches and smallest twigs of trees and shrubs. The layer of 

 ice goes on increasing till it attain-; a thickness of half an inch or 

 more. A magical transformation is wrought. The trees are hung 

 with glittering jewels, even the smallest twigs being loaded and 

 the branches lient to the earth. When the sun shines a scene of 

 dreamlike splendour is presented. Each tree has the appearance 

 of a great chandelier of crystal, tlie play of the sunbeams on 

 myraids of prisms producing a ilazzling effect. The weight of 

 the icy jewellry often breaks the thickest branches. Sometimes 

 the w'ind rises suddenly and uidoads the jewelled trees, and " like 

 the Ijaseless fal)ric of a vision " the whole vanishes. 



