28 2Cf)e ffiarten's 



apth in 1885. In 1880 and 1882 the scarlet 

 maple blossomed March 2d ; in 1872, 1873, and 

 1879, April loth; in 1885, April 2Oth. The 

 earliest pipings were sounded from the marshes 

 March 9th in 1877 and 1878; the latest, April 

 20th in 1885 and April I4th in 1874. The earli- 

 est high temperatures recorded were those of 

 March 31, 1875, 69; March 27, 1882, 64; 

 April 23, 1885, 90. 



Compared with previous seasons, therefore, 

 the present has been no worse than the average. 

 One must needs be grateful for the meager pit- 

 tance March doles out in the way of blue skies 

 and stray shadows on the garden dial. The last 

 few days of the month have been prodigal of 

 sunlight; and see, the urn of the first crocus 

 already flaunts its hoarded gold to herald the 

 returning flowers of spring ! 



