WIND AND RAIN. 
11 
quiring for the Tackamahac, the great northern or balsam poplar ; 
it is found at Niagara and on Lake Champlain, but the farmers 
about here seem to know notliing of it. This is a tree of some 
interest, from the fact that it preserves its size longer than any 
other wood as it approaches the pole, and the greater portion of 
the drift-wood in the arctic seas belong to this species. On the north- 
west coast, it is said to attain a very great size, one hundred and 
sixty feet in height, and twenty feet in diameter ! Poplars, through 
their different varieties, appear to stretch far over the globe, some 
being found in the heart of the warm countries of Southern Eu- 
rope and Asia, others on the skirts of the arctic regions. The 
wood used for architectural purposes in the sultry plains of Meso- 
potamia is said to be almost wholly a variety of the poplar, a na- 
tive of Armenia, which is the region of the peach. 
Saturday, ISth. — It still continues showery, in spite of several 
attempts to -clear. We have had much more rain than usual 
lately. A high gust came sweeping down the valley this after- 
noon, driving the rain in heavy sheets before the face of the hills, 
while pines and hemlocks were tossing their arms wildly on the 
mountain-tops, and even the bare locusts bent low before the wind ; 
white-caps were rolling with much more power than usual in our 
placid lake ; the garden-walks and the roads were flooded in a 
moment, and pools formed in every hollow on the lawn; the 
water literally poured down upon us as if from some other re- 
ceptacle than the clouds. Let us hope this is the closing shower, 
for one longs to be abroad in the woods again. 
Monday, 15th. — Beautiful day. Long drive and walk in the 
hills and woods. While we have been housed in the village, how 
much has been going on abroad ! The leaves are opening rapidly, 
