THE WOODLAND IN APRIL 295 



being mucli earlier than the backward one of last 

 year, a beautiful sight of blue wiU soon be pre- 

 sented by this scentless flower." 



" And is that beautiful flower — a subject fit for 

 an artist's brush — scentless, and yet it is a Violet ? " 



" Yes," I responded; " scentless it is. One 

 does not expect to find the Sweet-smelling Violet 

 here in the woodland to any extent, although, 

 true enough, here are some White Violets whose 

 aroma is even sweeter than the Blue variety. 

 The scented Violets much prefer a grassy bank 

 facing the South, and here one should search for 

 them in early Spring, but the Dog Violet is not 

 nearly so particular in its choice of locality, and 

 will grow almost anywhere." 



" How green that side of the wood looks," said 

 my friend. " What trees are they 1 " 



" I should say they are Sycamores," I answered, 

 " for this is one of the earliest trees of the wood- 

 land to burst its leaves, and put on the fresh green 

 flush of Spring, and here, see, is the Wild Cherry 

 in leaf; the blossom will only be a few days later." 



" And tell me, what is that destitute tree yonder, 

 just a little daub of green here and there ? " 



" That is a Larch Fir," I replied, " and if you 

 see that same tree in a week or two from now, 

 when the soft green foliage and the reddish flowers 

 are upon it, you will say it is one of the fairest 

 sights of the woodland." 



