IX THE PINES. 225 



charming than Nature's blending of these two lovely 

 plants. The arbutus blossoms from a month to six 

 weeks earlier in the pines of New Jersey than in New 

 England, where it takes the name of May-flower. It 

 is not unusual to find it in the pines in full bloom by 

 the middle of March. And by this time, or even ear- 

 lier, we are sure to find the little shrub Cassandra 

 calyculata, with its one - sided racemes of closely - set 

 bell-shaped flowers. 



There is an entrancing influence about these early 

 flowers, 



"That come before the swallow dares, and take 

 The winds of March with beauty," 



making the first days of early spring in the pines days 

 never to be forgotten. And there is a subtle power in 

 the atmosphere which stimulates the sluggish winter 

 blood, and sends it coursing through- the veins, giving 

 us an exquisite realization of the delights in nature. 



We listen to the whispering pines and catch their 

 odorous breath, while beneath our feet the spicy aro- 

 matic winter-green, with its dark shining leaves and 

 clusters of scarlet berries, yields its fragrance at every 

 step. The sweet-fern, with its plumy catkins, is redo- 

 lent with perfume, and the wax-myrtle adds its share 

 of grateful aroma. 



The wax-myrtle, with its crowded clusters of greenish- 

 white waxy berries, takes us back to the early settlers, 

 who, Kalm informs us, used these berries to make can- 

 15 



