274 Br. J. Porter''s Floral and 



heard for a few days past. Making sugar is now the em- 

 ployment of our farmers. 



15. So warm that we sat with open windows. The al- 

 der in blossom, its beautiful aments waving gracefully over 

 the snow. The buds of the hazel are also tipped with red. 



16. The threeiobed hepatica or liver leaf begins to show 

 its buds. 



17. A severe storm of rain, snow and hail, attended with 

 some thunder and lightning. 



21. The hazel and hepatica in blossom. 



22. The croaking of the frogs is heard for the first time. 



23. Found the clatonia or spring beauty in flower at 

 Worthington. Some deep snow-banks still. 



24. Sun eclipsed. 



26. Farmers are now beginning to plough, 



27. Roundleaved violet in blossom. 



28. Woodpeckers and blackbirds appear. 



29. Swamp willow in blossom. 



May 1. So warm that an umbrella is agreeable. Ery- 

 thronium or adders tongue in blossom. 



2. Early corydalis or colic weed and two species of sedge 

 in blossom ; the trees are beginning to put forth their leaves, 

 the chirping of the wren is heard, and the groves are full of 

 music. 



3. Lombardy poplar and Canada violet in blossom. 



4. Observed the balm of gilead, red maple, yellow birch, 

 rhomboidal trillium, sessileleaved uvularia or bellwort, the 

 delicate chrysosplenium or golden saxifrage and field equis- 

 etum in flower. The sun shines with a scorching heat, and 

 vegetation is surprisingly rapid. Here and there however, 

 a bank of snow is still to be seen on the hills. 



5. Found the elm, fly, honeysuckle, colt's foot and straw- 

 berry in blossom at Cummington. The large poisonous 

 leaves of the veratrura or poke root and the wooly heads 

 ef the polypods are starting up every where by our brooks. 

 The first swallow seen. 



6. The white birch, sugar maple, sweetscented white vi- 

 olet and bluish houstonia in flower at the same place. Very 

 warm ; the first chimney swallow seen. It is the season 

 for sowing English grain. In the woods the leaves are not 

 large enough to form much shade, but the long dehcate 

 aments of the yellow birch, waving over our head, appear 



