THE COMING OF SPRING 27 



it deepens in the bud through carmine almost to 

 crimson, and is called red by the undiscriminating, 

 though it never takes the orange, yellow and scar- 

 let tints of the Flame Azalea of the Pennsylvania 

 and Carolina mountains. 



While among flowers the first comers are pale, 

 the Magician soon blends brilliant colors for his 

 work, though he paints less broadly with them 

 than in summer and autumn. As regards the yel- 

 low and white flowers of the landscape, it is well 

 to answer questions with greater caution; there 

 are so many of the Magician's treasures in sight 

 at this season, and mere color is not always rightly 

 caught in a swift glance. 



Was it a bed among rocks of much -cleft silver - 

 green foliage, set with flower-sprays of two -pointed 

 white and yellow bloom that might be pairs of elfin 

 trousers hung out to bleach? Then you may say 

 they were Dutchman's Breeches. 



Wood and Rue Anemones both make patches of 

 light in shady places, but the Rue is less brilliantly 

 white, owing to the mixture of the foliage with the 

 blooms, while the Wood variety holds its head well 

 above its leaves, even though it hangs it down in 

 a discouraged fashion at the approach of night or 

 during cloudy weather; and Bluets also look white, 



