APRIL SIIOM'ERS.— THE SWALLOWS. 
45 
Friday, 2\st . — Fresh lettuce from the hot-beds. 
Saturday, 22d . — The sky cloudy, with April showei's, but we 
ventured to take a short walk. There were never more brown 
flowers on the elms ; it is unusual to see them in such very great 
abundance ; the trees are thickly clothed with them. The soft 
maple is also showing its crimson blossoms. The grass is grow- 
ing beautifully ; there is a percfeptible difference from day to day, 
and it is pleasant to note how the cattle enjoy the fresh, tender 
herbage of the pastures after the dry fodder of the barn-yard. 
We followed the Green Brook through the fields into the woods ; 
on its banks gathered some pretty pink bells of the spring beauty. 
Tlie barn swallows have made their appearance, and the flocks 
of the white-billed swallows seem to have increased by new ar- 
rivals. 
Monday, 2ith . — The young leaves on the lilacs, currents, and 
some early roses and honeysuckles, are springing — the first 
branches to look green. In the woods the young \dolet and 
strawberry leaves look fresh and tender among the withered 
herbajie, and the older evergreens. 
Tuesday, 25th . — Charming day. Went into the woods this 
afternoon to gather a harvest of trailing arbutus. It takes many 
to make a pretty bunch, for the leaves are large and often in the 
way, so that one is obliged to use the scissors freely when mak- 
ing them into a nosegay. The plant stretches its ^•ine-like, woody 
branches far and Avide over the hill-sides in thick patches ; its large, 
strong, rounded leaves groAv in close tufts — small and lai-ge together 
— and, although tough in te.\ture, they are often defective in rusty 
spots, especially the old leaves which have been lying under the 
snow ; in summer, they arc brighter and more perfect. The 
