Long Continuance of Frost in the Soil. 289 



the same errand. Birds incubating, but summer arrivals not 



so far advanced as the resident birds. May Flower (E. repens) 



in fragrant bloom — it is assuredly the snowdrop of Canada. 



Warm showers, southern blasts ; frost still in the soil, which is 



hard under the surface. Frogs croaking and piping furiously 



in bogs. (22nd, 1867.) A late spring this year after the almost 



unparalleled cold of the previous months. Swifts (C \ pelasgia) 



arriving. Hawthorn budding. Hard-wood trees throwing off 



their bud-scales. Maple-tree tapping nearly over, the sugar 



being collected. No warblers, save the brave little yellow 



warbler above noticed, have yet ventured to visit us. River 



rising fast and overflowing." 



" No doubt the preponderance of forest over bare and 



cultivated tracts, thus retaining the snow in spring, keeps up 



an average longer winter than would be were the former 



cut down. Although tree-felling is going on actively — mostly, 



however, by the selection of the most valuable trees — there has 



been no extensive clearing sufficient to produce this change, 



unless perhaps in parts of southern New Brunswick, where 



the climate, tempered by the sea, is always milder than in the 



more inland parts. It is the length of time that the snow 



lies in the woods that keeps up the chill and retards the 



melting of the frost in the soil below, often frozen for three 



feet in depth. Thus, it is well on in May before the land is 



fit for cereals and seeds, inasmuch as, after the frost has 



disappeared, there remains a coldness in the earth sufficient 



to retard germination until the beginning of June, when after 



several warm showers nature makes a grand effort, as if her 



time had now come. Hence the fresh arrival is struck by 



rapid growth of trees and plants. In a few days bare the 



branches become covered with dense verdure, and the fruit 



rapidly succeeds the flower, and ripens with amazing rapidity, 



and apparently often at the expense of its flavour."* 



* This is remarkable with many trees, such as the lilac, which bursts 

 suddenly into flower, and before a few days is in seed ; the same with the 

 hawthorn, apple, etc., etc. 



U 



