ETut why do many woocl-plants, as Colts-foot, Piie- 

 vvorf, Violets; and many garden. plants, as Snow, 

 drops, Assara-bacca, Crocus, flower in the very be- 

 ginning of spring, when, we cannot by any pains or 

 eare bring them to flower after the summer solstice? 

 'Nay, these very plants, which are so patient of cold 

 in spring, are in the autumn so very weak and tender, 

 that they die on the first touch of trost. Why on the 

 contrary do thistles and many other plants never flower 

 before the summer solstice? 



In the same manner trees observe fixed laws, and a 

 certain order in their leafing. Does the cause li<> ia 

 the different depth of their roots ? If so, shrubs 

 would have leaTes before trees of the same kind: but 

 they have not. We can only say, the fact weknow, 

 but the reason of it we know not. 



The order of the leafing of several trees and shrubs, 

 observed in Norfolk, in 1755, was as follows : 



1. Honey Stickle - January 15 



2. Gooseberry, Currant, Elder March H 



3. Birch, Weeping-willow - April 1 



4. Rasberry, Bramble - 3 



5. Briar . 4 



6. Plumb, Apricot ? Peach - 6 



7. Filbert, Sallow, Alder . 7 



8. Sycamore 9 



9. Elm, Quince - - 10 



10. Marsh E.'der 11 



11. Wycii Elm . 12 



12. Horn. Beam * . 13 



13. Apple-Tree - - 14 



14. Abel, Caesuut . - 16 



15. Willow ... 17 

 16 Oik, Lime 18 

 17. M pie * . 19 

 IS. Walnut, Plane, blark Poplar, Beech 21 

 19. Ash, Carolina Poplar - 22 



Indeed the leafing of several of these varies much, as 

 tie spring is earlier or later. But others of thera, be 

 H 5 



