44 WOOD AND GARDEN 



Brambles are also best seen in these forest groups; 

 these again in form of leaf show somewhat of a vine- 

 like beauty. 



In the end of March, or at any time during the 

 month when the wind is in the east or north-east, all 

 increase and development of vegetation appears to 

 cease. As things are, so they remain. Plants that are 

 in flower retain their bloom, but, as it were, under pro- 

 test. A kind of sullen dulness pervades all plant life. 

 Sweet-scented shrubs do not give off their fragrance; 

 even the woodland moss and earth and dead leaves 

 withhold their sweet, nutty scent. The surface of the 

 earth has an arid, infertile look; a slight haze of an 

 ugly grey takes the colour out of objects in middle 

 distance, and seems to rob the flowers of theirs, or to 

 put them out of harmony with all things around. But 

 a day comes, or, perhaps, a warmer night, when the 

 wind, now breathing gently from the south-west, puts 

 new life into all growing things. A marvellous change 

 is wrought in a few hours. A little warm rain has 

 fallen, and plants, invisible before, and doubtless still 

 underground, spring into glad life. 



What an innocent charm there is about many of 

 the true spring flowers. Primroses of many colours 

 are now in bloom, but the prettiest, this year, is a patch 

 of an early blooming white one, grouped with another 

 of a delicate lilac. Then comes Omphalodes verna, with 

 its flowers of brilliant blue and foliage of brightest 

 green, better described by its pretty north-country name, 



