MAY 1ST.

THE WOOD CROWFOOT, OR GOLDILOCKS.—(Ranunculus

auricomus.)

"That balmy vernal time,
When Nature revels in her prime,
And all is fresh and fair and gay,
Resplendent with the smiles of May,"

hath scarcely arrived as yet a wintry aspect still lingers, in some slight degree, around the landscape; some of the forest trees are leafless; and although the meadows have put on a fresher tint of green, the luxuriance of spring is wanting. The springing vegetation and the bursting buds are often checked by cold north-east winds, frost, hail, and snow. A rapid change is, however, soon in progress, and the aspect of the country becomes more in accordance with the poet's view.

Our sheltered green lanes have a more spring-like appearance than the open meadows; the banks are matted with fresh green; primroses and violets are in profusion, and the golden celandine shines resplendent in the sunbeams; the bramble mingles its new leaves with the soft green of the hawthorn, and the lower branches of the hedgerow elms are feathered with the brightest verdure; along the banks are scattered on either hand numerous plants of the Wood Crowfoot, or, as the old herbalists call it, golden locks," rearing their heads over the creeping hedgeside plants, nodding

66

"Their yellow cups so bright and clear"

above the green-veined trailing ivy. The flower is of deep gold, resembling the common meadow crowfoot, but smaller and deeper in colour; the foliage is distinct from that of the meadow plant, the upper leaves being divided into thin, narrow slips, the lower into three kidney-shaped lobes.

it

The plant is found only in shady hedgerows and woods was probably held in more estimation of old, from its freedom from those acrid qualities that distinguish the Crowfoot tribe; hence it was called the sweet Crowfoot. The flower appears

to be the favourite food of some of our spring insects, as it is often seen considerably mutilated.

Despite cold winds we soon distinctly trace the jewelled footsteps of spring by the bursting buds and opening flowers. Hark to the description of the Ettrick Shepherd :—“ May's just like a haughty damsel, in the pride o' her teens, sometimes flingin' a scornfu' look to you ower her shouther, as if she despised a' mankind; and then a' at once, as if touched by gentle thochts, relaxin' intil a burst o' smiles like the sun, on a half stormy day comin' out suddenly frae amang the breakin' clouds, and changing at once earth into heaven.” *

MAY 2ND.

THE BIRCH. (Betula alba.)

THE grace and beauty of this tree obtained from Coleridge the complimentary title of "The Lady of the Woods." The light, drooping sprays, clothed as they are at the present season with delicate young leaves of the freshest green, and hung with pendulous catkins, like golden tassels, give the tree a clear title to be considered as the representative of the elegance and loveliness of the woodland.

As "the wild Birch waves her tresses green" in the warm spring showers, a pleasant fragrance, somewhat resembling that of the rose, is diffused abroad. In the fresh air of early morning, when the wind passes through the Birches, the perfume is plainly perceptible.

The tree is readily known at all seasons by its silvery bark. It appears to have been esteemed of old for the beauty of its foliage. Gerarde says, "The branches serve well for the decking up of houses and banqueting rooms, for places of pleasure." It would require a long chapter to catalogue its

uses.

*Noctes Ambrosianie.

The leaves are used in Finland as a substitute for tea; and in Norway and Sweden as fodder for cattle.

The bark has been put to many uses, as it resists damp and the depredations of insects. The interior of the tree may wholly decay, leaving the bark perfectly sound. An oil is extracted from the bark, and used in Russia in tanning; the peculiar odour of Russia leather is imparted by this oil.

There are several varieties of the Birch. A peculiarity in the growth of the common Birch has been often noticed with surprise-a kind of natural bird's nest formed by the matting together of the young branches; this is evidence of disease. Before the use of parchment and paper, the inner bark of the Birch was used for manuscripts. The sap may be thickened into syrup, and crystalised into sugar. Birch wine was formerly in much repute with the good wives of the homestead.

Notwithstanding the elegance of growth of the Birch, and the multiplied uses of its leaves, bark, and timber, there seems to have been formerly a class who viewed the tree with much apprehension. Shenstone says they could not contemplate it without alarm

"For not a wind might curl the leaves that blew

But their limbs shudder'd, and their pulse beat low;
And as they look'd they found their horror grew,
And shaped it into rods, and tingled at the view."

The reason is given by Gerarde, who observes, "that parents and schoolmasters do terrify their children with rods made of Birch."

MAY 3RD.

THE ARUM, WAKE ROBIN, OR CUCKOO PINT—
(Arum maculatum),

"That in a mantling hood conceals

Her sanguine club, and spreads her spotted leaf.”

THIS plant may now be readily found under our shady hedgeThe large, glossy, arrow-shaped leaves of deep green, usually marked with numerous veins, and spotted with dark

rows.

colour, are nearly the first of early spring; as the summer advances, the future flower shoots up from the centre of the plant, closely wrapped in the calyx formed of one large oval leaf; this green covering gradually unfolds until it forms a kind of alcove, from which the Lord or Lady, as it may be, looks abroad. The flower is of the most curious structure-a kind of infloresence, of which we have no other exampleclub-shaped, round, and fleshy; when the upper part is of a purplish colour, the children call it a "Lord," when white, a "Lady;" around the bottom of the stalk are many tapering points: these are the seed buds, and are gradually transformed into berries; in the autumn the outer sheath falls away, and the stalk, clustered with berries of a bright vermillion colour, becomes conspicuous in the hedgerows, as the leaves begin to thin; the thrush is said to feed on the berries. The root is tuberous, and has a strong aromatic smell; it is about the size of a small potato; in its milky state extremely acrid; it, however, loses this injurious quality when boiled or baked; dried and powdered, it makes a good wholesome flour, known as Portland Sago, of which nutritious bread may be made, or good starch.

The ladies of France formerly used it as a cosmetic; it is sold at a high price, under the name of "Cypress powder."

Its medicinal qualities are highly spoken of by the old botanical writers; it is undoubtedly a powerful stimulant, and appears to have been used with advantage in rheumatism; the acrid qualities of the fresh root render caution necessary.

It is said that the Arum evolves a certain amount of heat, and that, for some hours after the opening of the spathe, warmth may be detected by the hand and accurately tested by the thermometer. We have no personal experience of this stated fact.

MAY 4TH.

THE BULBOUS CROWFOOT OR BUTTERCUP.-(Ranunculus

bulbosus.)

"Genial spring

Has filled the laughing vales with welcome flowers."