"Now shifting gales with milder influence blow; Cloud o'er the skies and melt the falling snow; The soften'd soil with fertile moisture teems, And, freed from icy bonds, down rush the swelling streams."

THE earlier part of this month may be still reckoned winter, though the days are sensibly lengthened, and the sun has power enough gradually to melt away the snow and ice Sometimes a sudden thaw comes on, which at once dissolves the snow. Torrents of water then descend from the hills; every little brook and rill is swelled to a large

stream; and the ice is swept away with great violence from the rivers. The frost, however, returns for a time, fresh snows fall, and the weather alternately changes during most part of the month.

Various signs of returning spring occur at different times in this month. The woodlark, one of the earliest and sweetest of our songsters, frequently commences it with his wild note. Not long after, rooks and partridges begin to pair, and geese to lay. The thrush and chaffinch then add to the early music of the groves, and the white wagtail appears.

Moles now to go work, in throwing up their hillocks, as soon as the earth is softened; under some of the largest of which they make their nests of moss, and have four or five young ones at a time. As they live on worms, insects, and the roots of plants, they do much mischief in gardens, by loosening and devouring flower-roots.

Many plants emerge from under ground in this month, but few flowers yet adorn the fields or gardens. Snow-drops in general are fully blown from the beginning of the month, often peeping from the midst of the

snow.

"Already now the snow drop dares appear,
The first pale blossom of the unripen'd year;
As Flora's breath, by some transforming power,
Had chang'd an icicle into a flower:

Its name and hue the senseless plant retains,
And winter lingers in its icy veins."

The flower-buds of the elder tree now begin to open; the catkins of the hazel become conspicuous in the hedges; and leaves begin to disclose themselves on the gooseberry and currant bushes.

* An imaginary deity of the Heathens, who was said to preside over flowers. They had, in their mythology, many Gods and Goddesses; such as Mars, the god of wars; Neptune, the god of the sea; Eolus, of the wind; Vulcan, of fire; Ceres, of harvests; Pomona, of orchards; Bacchus, of wine; Pluto, of the infernal regions; Venus, of beauty; and Cupid, of love, &c. Agreeably to the scriptures of truth there are that are called Gods many, and Lords many, yet there is but one living and true God; and the children of Israel, in the law, were forbidden even to mention the name of other Gods, or to let it be heard out of their mouth; and surely it is a great pity, that in an enlightened age, among professing Christians, so free use is made of those ridiculous heathen deities, and it is much to be regretted that so many otherwise valuable writings, especially poetry, are tarnished with their names. Why this predilection for those abominations of the heathens, and their long exploded ideas, that our writings, our prints, paintings, and our statuary should so much abound with those impious follies of darker ages?

The farmer, as soon as the ground is sufficiently thawed, ploughs and fallows; sows beans and peas, and rye and spring wheat.

"Joyous th' impatient husbandman perceives
Relenting nature, and his lusty steers

Drives from their stalls, to where the well-used plough,
Lies in the furrow, loosen'd from the frost;
There, unrefusing, to the harness'd yoke
They lend their shoulder, and begin their toil,
Cheer'd by the simple song and soaring lark;
Meanwhile, incumbent o'er the shining share,
The master leans, removes the obstructing clay,
Winds the whole work, and sidelong lays the glebe;
While through the neighbouring field the sower stalks,
With measur'd step, and lib'ral throws the grain,
Into the fruitful bosom of the ground."

The husbandman, also, at this season, sets his early potatoes; drains his wet land; dresses and repairs his hedges; lops his trees, and plants those kinds which love a wet soil, as poplars and willows; and, with

-Fancy fir'd, anticipates their growth."

3 €

Winter still lingering on the verge of Spring, Retires reluctant, and from time to time

Looks back; while, at his keen and chilling breath Fair Flora* sickens."

THE severe, chilling blasts which abound in this month, while they dry up the superabundant moisture of February, and prevent the roots and seeds from rotting in the earth, keep the swelling buds from a premature disclosure, which would expose their tender contents to injury from the yet unsettled season. Thus, even the winds of March, boisterous and vehement to a proverb, are to be regarded as highly salutary.