HOLLY AND YEW. 
475 
frosts, and accumulated snows, and sudden thaws of our winters, 
make up a season which tries men's walls, and roofs, very thor- 
oughly. But in another way, also, our winters are a severe test 
of architectural merit ; the buildings stand before one naked and 
bare, not only deprived of all the drapery of summer foliage, but 
rising from a ground- work of snow, they seem to stand out with 
peculiar boldness, and every defect challenges attention. One 
may feel assured that a building which bears the scrutiny of a 
snow climate in winter, will look like a perfect model at other 
seasons. There is a certain fitness in some styles of architecture 
which adapts them to different climates ; a Grecian edifice never 
appears to advantage surrounded with snow ; there is a sort of ele- 
gance and delicacy in its lines which seem to require softer skies, 
and verdure for its accessories. A Gothic pile, on the contrary, 
bears the snow well ; it does not look chilled ; it was not built of 
a summer's day, it was made to brave the storm and tempest of 
northern lands. This connection of climate and architecture would 
seem to have not yet received all the attention it deserves, more 
especially in our own country. 
Saturday, 3d. — Blustering day. Among the numerous ever- 
greens of this State are several which are interesting from Euro- 
pean associations, and from their being rather rare in our woods, 
many persons believe them to be wholly wanting. 
The Holly is found on Long Island, and on the island of Man- 
hattan, and a little farther south it is very common. It grows 
from ten to forty feet in height, and very much resembles that of 
Europe, though not precisely similar. 
The Yew is only seen here as a low trailing shrub, from four to 
