III. 



THE BEGINNINGS OF SPRING. 



IN spite of the severe and long-continued cold, the 

 trees and flowers themselves seeni to have made tip their 

 minds that we are to have an early spring at all events 

 here in the west country. The difference in the general 

 forwardness of vegetation between the two great slopes 

 on either side of England is this year extremely marked. 

 In Kent and Sussex the buds are still closely covered in 

 their dusky winter coats ; the flowers (save primroses) 

 have hardly begun as yet to straggle here and there in a 

 tentative way through the long-frozen soil ; and there is 

 scarcely a sign anywhere among the meadows or copses 

 that spring has set in at last. But in the south-western 

 counties it is quite otherwise. The gardens here are gay 

 already with bright golden borders of crocus ; snowdrops 

 are flourishing in the open air ; and jonquils and daffo- 

 dils are sending up their pale yellowish green leaves, 

 inclosing their tall scapes with the papery spathes halt' 

 revealing the slender buds within. On the horse-chest- 

 nut trees the dark gummy sheaths are just beginning to 

 open under the pressure of the wan and growing leaflets 

 which they have covered through the winter season ; the 

 hardier shrubs are already well in leaf, though the blades 

 are still folded together or only half expanded as yet ; 

 and even on the hedges the white-thorns are showing- 

 signs of life, the little fresh pink scales bursting through 

 their brown and withered coverings, or even sometimes 

 showing a tiny green tip at the very end of a growing 



