THE SNOW-DROP. 
The Snow-drop (which may be found in 
meadows and orchards) receives its name from 
the whiteness of its flower, and the time of its 
appearance, which is often when snow is on 
the ground. Its botanical appellation is 
Galanthus nivalis, or snowy milk flower. 
“ With us the flower of this interesting plant 
appears in January, and retains its petals until 
March, when the germen assumes the cha¬ 
racter of a seed vessel; but it is in the inter¬ 
mediate month that each of these plants dis¬ 
plays a snowy blossom, and for this reason the 
Snow-drop is called Fair-maid of February.” 
The Snowdrop, considered as the harbinger 
of spring and the promise of future blessings, 
is the most cheering and welcome of plants. 
Rearing its spotless head amid frost and 
storm, it gives joyous sign of that coming 
season which is to restore the delights of 
budding flowers and sunny skies. But there are 
some persons who, though “skilled in nature’s 
lore,” deny that it is adapted to awaken plea¬ 
sing anticipations. “The snow-drop,” writes 
Mr. Knapp,* “ is a melancholy flower. The 
season in which the “ fair maids of February” 
come out, is the most dreary and desolate of 
our year: they peep through the snow that 
often surrounds them, shivering and cheerless ; 
they convey no idea of reviving nature, and 
are scarcely the harbingers of milder days, 
* See “ Journal of a Naturalist.” 
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