THE SEASONS IN GUIANA. 3 
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afresh. This is their spring time, which is to a certain 
extent irregular, as are the rainy seasons. The trees 
however are not so dependent on the weather, and 
although by no means so regular as those of temperate 
climates they as a rule vary only within certain lines. 
Their spring comes at the time when, after ripening 
fruit, the leaves begin to fall and they become almost 
bare; then suddenly the tree braces itself as it were for 
another season’s work. It has hardly slept, but simply 
languished awhile, and now comes well to the front with 
new leaves of most delicate shades and a wealth of 
flowers. Its spring has lasted but a week or two—it 
cannot afford to waste time ontrifles. Instead of having 
twelve months in which to perform its task, this has to 
be done in six, and even then there is no rest, for it 
must go through its two cycles in one year. Its summer 
cannot be curtailed to any great extent-—it lasts over 
several months —about as long as the hot season of tem- 
perate climates. Finally its autumn, winter and spring 
are hurriedly got over and the second summer comes on. 
It may be generally affirmed that all our native trees 
perform two tasks every year, almost regardless of the 
weather. The leaves fall off by degrees, only here and 
there a tree becoming quite bare for a few hours, a day 
or two, or in the case of the silk-cotton tree, for two or 
three weeks. Then the flowers appear, those of the 
Jacaranda, (Wakenaam Lilac) and one or two others 
covering bare twigs with masses of flowers. Few leaves 
change colour before falling, but the Terminalia, (wrongly 
called almond) and the sea-side-grape (Coccoloba) are 
conspicuous exceptions. These may be seen about 
February and again in July and August with their thick 
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