A MARCH CHRONICLE 95 



around them. The first step in the way of improve- 

 ment was to use tin pans instead of troughs, and a 

 large stone arch in which the kettles or caldrons 

 were set with the fire beneath them. But of late 

 years, as the question of fuel has become a more im- 

 portant one, greater improvements have been made. 

 The arch has given place to an immense stove de- 

 signed for that special purpose ; and the kettles to 

 broad, shallow, sheet- iron pans, the object being to 

 economize all the heat, and to obtain the greatest 

 possible extent of evaporating surface. 



March 15. — From the first to the middle of 

 March the season made steady progress. There 

 were no checks, no drawbacks. Warm, copious 

 rains from the south and southwest, followed by 

 days of unbroken sunshine. In the moist places — 

 and what places are not moist at this season ? — the 

 sod buzzed like a hive. The absorption and filtra- 

 tion among the network of roots was an audible 

 process. 



The clod fairly sang. How the trees responded 

 also ! The silver poplars were masses of soft gray 

 bloom, and the willows down toward the river 

 seemed to have slipped off their old bark and on 

 their new in a single night. The soft maples, too, 

 when massed in the distance, their tops deeply dyed 

 in a bright maroon color, — how fair they looked ! 



The 15th of the month was " one of those charmed 

 days when the genius of God doth flow." The 

 wind died away by mid-forenoon, and the day set- 

 tled down so softly and lovingly upon the earth, 



