100 DAYS OUT OF DOORS. 



Given shelter from the northwest winds and average 

 vigor, and many a leaf will cling to its parent stem until 

 the swelling leaf-bads of the new year shall crowd it from 

 its place. 



While yet the drifts of the late great snow-storm still 

 lingered, it was a pleasant feature of the landscape to see 

 the sapling beeches still bearing aloft their last year's 

 leaves, dimly glittering like wiinkled fragments of old 

 gold, and filling the air with a bell-like tinkle, soothing 

 and soft as the twitter of a bird. 



I offer it as a hint to the landscape gardener, to bring 

 about by selection — if it can be done — a fully established 

 habit of leaf -retention ; not making evergreen oaks, but 

 winter-long, bright brown oaks ; for such now lessen to a 

 marked degree the dreariness of many a winter outlook. 

 Again, when leaf -retaining oaks are mingled with ever- 

 greens, there is an added charm to the scene. Think for 

 a moment of such a cluster as this : A background of 

 cedar, scattered oaks with dark brown leaves, a beech with 

 golden foliage, and crimson-fruited black alder mingled 

 through it all, for the fruit of the alder clings at times to 

 the stems until winter is well advanced, and the glowing 

 color of the berries is not dimmed even when the fruit is 

 shriveled. 



Lastly, it matters nothing what the weather may be, 

 April has yet another feature worthy of record, one that 

 gives it a glory above all winter months — the coming of 

 the pioneer thrush. This year, the mild, moonlit mid- 

 night of March 31 wooed him hither. We may be sure 

 of this, for he is no skulker in early spring, and greets the 

 sunrise with no uncertain song, wherever he may be. 

 Very appropriately, then, he was first seen and heard as 

 the glimmering light of dawn disclosed, April 1st, the 

 naked fields, the faintly greening willows, and wide 



