70 THE SNOWDROP. 



by the hand of man, or strayed from any neighboring 

 cultivation. Yet in most places where we find this flower, 

 it is of manifest or suspicious origin ; and with us it 

 partakes of this latter character, though no remains of 

 any ancient dwelling are observable near it. The dam- 

 ask rose, the daffodil, or the stock of an old bullace 

 plum, will long remain, and point out where once a 

 cottage existed ; but all these, and most other tokens, 

 in time waste away and decay ; while the snowdrop will 

 remain, increase, and become the only memorial of man 

 and his labors. Many flowers present strong distinctive 

 characters, or will, at least often do, excite in us vari- 

 able feelings : the primrose, and the daisy, if not intrin- 

 sically gay, call forth cheerful and pleasing sensations ; 

 and the aspect or glance of some others will awaken 

 different affections. The snowdrop is a melancholy flower. 

 The season in which the "fair maids of February" 

 come out, is the most dreary and desolate of our year : 

 they peep through the snow that often surrounds them, 

 shivering and cheerless : they convey no idea of reviv- 

 ing nature, and are scarcely the harbingers of milder 

 days, but rather the emblem of sleety storms, and icy 

 gales, (snowdrop weather), and wrap their petals round 

 the infant germ, fearing to admit the very air that blows ; 

 and, when found beyond the verge of cultivation, they 

 most generally remind us of some deserted dwelling, a 

 family gone, a hearth that smokes no more. A lover of 

 cold, it maintains the beautiful ovate form of its flower 

 only in a low temperature; warmth expanding the petals, 

 vitiating its grace, and destroying its character. It 

 seems to preserve its native purity free from every con- 

 tamination ; it will become double, but never wanders 

 into varieties, is never streaked or tinged with the hues 

 of other flowers. 



One of our pasture grasses is particularly affected by 

 dry weather. Several are injured frequently by drought 

 acting upon the stalk, not molesting the root, but with- 

 ering the succulent base of the straw, which arises from 

 the upper joint; in consequence of which, the panicle, 

 and connecting straw, dry away, while the foliage and 

 lower leaves remain uninjured. None are so obnoxious 



