A MARCH CHRONICLE, 



III 



The first step in the way of improvement was to use 

 tin pans instead of troughs, and a large stone arch in 

 which the kettles or caldrons were set with the fire be- 

 neath them. But of late years, as the question of fuel 

 has become a more important one, greater improve- 

 ments have been made. The arch has given place to 

 an immense stove designed for that special purpose ; 

 and the kettles to broad, shallow, sheet-iron pans, the 

 object being to economize all the heat, and to obtain 

 the greatest possible extent of evaporating surface. 



March 15. — From the first to the middle of March 

 the season made steady progress. There were no 

 checks, no drawbacks. Warm, copious rains from the 

 south and southwest, followed by days of unbroken 

 sunshine. In the moist places — and what places are 

 not moist at this season ? — the sod buzzed like a hive. 

 The absorption and filtration among the net-work of 

 roots was an audible process. 



The clod fairly sang. How the trees responded 

 also ! The silver poplars were masses of soft gray 

 bloom, and the willows down toward the river seemed 

 to have slipped off their old bark and on their new in 

 a single night. The soft maples, too, when massed in 

 the distance, their tops deeply dyed in a bright maroon 

 color, how fair they looked ! 



The 15th of the month was " one of those charmed 

 days when the genius of God doth flow." The wind 

 died away by mid-forenoon, and the day settled down 

 so softly and lovingly upon the earth, touching every- 



