THE MARCH WOODS. 23 
Soon, on this very spot where the waters have 
now overflowed, we shall be looking for the anemone 
(Anemone nemorosa, L.), for the star-flower ( Trientalis 
<lmericana, Pursh), the fringed polygala (Polygala 
pauctfolia, Willd), and other early flowers. If we 
should follow the brook down to its junction with the 
river, we should expect to find the skunk cabbage 
(Symplocarpus fetidus, Salisb.) already putting forth its 
promise of flower and leaf; but our objective point to- 
day is the pond yonder, by the margin of which we 
have often found one of the most attractive of the spring 
flowers, the leather-leaf (Cassandra calyculata, Don). 
Its flower-buds were already formed last summer. We 
have gathered twigs of it in March before now, and by 
placing them in water have coaxed the buds to open a 
month or more before those left on the parent stem. 
One year we found it in bloom April 22d, but the next 
two years on May 2d, which shows that, although it is 
all ready to yield to the genial influence of sun and rain, 
it is not in much of a hurry to open and run the risk of 
nipping frosts. We will gather some twigs to-day, and, 
as we go homeward, will not fail to pluck some of those 
willows which are showing their little white heads so 
invitingly. They have pushed back the scales which 
covered them carefully through the winter, and now, 
protected by the numerous wool-like hairs, are pushing 
further forward so as not to lose a minute when the 
