44 UPLAND AND MEADOW. 



add to the interest of a winter's walk. If the weather 

 stajs open, even in February, and usually in March, 

 bine violets peep from beneath sheltering leaves. There 

 is one interesting point with reference to early violets. 

 Tliey are always more advanced where there is a com- 

 parative absence of oak-leaves. I have so often found 

 this to be the case that it would seem as though there 

 were in the leaves something inimical to the flowers. 

 Throughout the summer, however, violets flourish in 

 oak woods. The explanation may be that the thick 

 covering of broad leaves prevents the frost from " com- 

 ing out," and the growth of the plant is checked in con- 

 sequence. Whatever the reason, under any other leaves 

 than those of the oak are winter violets more likely to 

 be found in bloom. 



On Washington's birthday, in a distant upland woods, 

 a friend claims he can always find, at least, one blossom 

 of trailing arbutus ; and so, too, on the bluff that guards 

 Poaetquissings and shields it from the north winds, he 

 can always find the liver-leaf, with its beautiful white, 

 pink, and purple flowers. It grows at the bases of tall 

 trees, where the shelter is effectual in protecting it from 

 all the assaults of Jack Frost. My own experience is 

 not equal to my friend's. I find it only in March, and 

 then, when there has been a week of sunshine and an 

 absence of frosty nights. 



Lastly, even as early as the middle of March, one may 

 gather eardrops. These are the most striking of all the 

 flowers of winter, and, as they hang from a smooth, 

 naked scape, six or eight inches high, are quite sure to 

 attract the botanist's attention. 



