AN APRIL RAMBLE. 71 



tender leaves have already burst from their scaly prison. 

 The lilac buds have broken, and those shrubs and the 

 elders are decked in tiny leaflets. Tints of freshest 

 green are stealing over the whitethorns, and the birches 

 will soon be clothed in vernal verdure. Several species 

 of willow are already decked in golden glory, the yellow 

 " palms " filling the surrounding air with rare fragrance, 

 and the trees are resonant with the drowsy hum of the 

 humble bees which have just woke up from their wintry 

 trance. It will be noticed that the buds on the trees 

 and bushes burst soonest on those branches near the 

 ground where they are warm and sheltered, those on 

 the higher twigs opening last of all. Specially is this 

 observable with such trees as the sycamore, the leaves 

 first appearing on the long " suckers " which grow out 

 near the roots. 



Vegetation of a still more lowly character is growing 

 in all directions. The young nettles help to make the 

 banks of the hedges look green and spring-like as they 

 sprout amongst the withered leaves and dead brambles, 

 whilst the anemones and bluebells are springing up in 

 the woods. In the wild weedy corners of the fields, and 

 along the hedgerows and in the coppices and lanes, 

 herbs of all kinds are growing up from amongst the dry 

 grass ; whilst in the woods and by the stream the hairy 

 brown knobs of the fern and the bracken are rapidly 

 uncurling. The flowers of spring are now in full bloom 



