III. 



THE BEGINNINGS OF SPRING. 



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

 and flowers themselves seem to have made up 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 ; snow- 

 drops are flourishing in the open air ; and jonquils and 

 daffodils are sending up their pale yellowish green 

 leaves, enclosing their tall scapes with the papery 

 spathes half revealing the slender buds within. On the 

 horse-chestnut 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 



