THAWING. 115 



period of dryness— would clioke up their breath- 

 ing pores and injure their health and vitality and 

 vigour. As a washing, and consequently cleansing 

 process only, the action of a thaw is oftentimes 

 more thorough than the action of rain. From 

 the varying angles at which leaves and stems lie, 

 rain, even of the most persistent, kind, cannot 

 reach every point ; but the moisture which pre- 

 cedes a hoar-frost or a snow-storm is most 

 penetrating, and precipitates upon every exposed 

 part of plants — trunk, branches, and twigs. 

 Snow intervening and frost, the moisture is fixed 

 by the formation of ice and snow crystals, and 

 thus, when the thaw comes suddenly, every part 

 is washed in a more effective way than could be 

 the case by the action of rain. The earth, too, 

 which may have been dry and pai^ched previous 

 to the snowfall, receives invigoration and refresh-' 

 meiit for the roots it has to nourish by the watet 

 carried into it by the melting of snow. The plant 

 world seems as if placed under a spell during the 

 existence and continuance of frost and snow, and 

 there is relief and rejoicing under the genial 

 influence of a thaw. For those who delight, in 



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