Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-05-14
The Trailing Arbutus.

This little plant,-( (Epigea repens,) is fitted
by its character and by the legend of its discov-
cry, to become The foral,embem oil New Eng.
land at least, of its rural light and domestic
virtues Hardy perennia closely embracing
the soil, maturing It's fowerheds under the win
ter snow, and expanding its fragrant clusters of
blossoms in early spring il is universal favor.
ite, and wherever il grows, il is more generally
known and pr'zed than any other wild flower
The old weather-beaien iaFrer strolIs out to his
pastures on the last SUNDAY of April, or the
first of May, to see if it wilso to turn The cattle
out on the morrow. TeFen the blue and
white ylc;z a,i 4 i.sssa K. III the aoa,h
wind blowing never so softlb are srmyle 'vi-lets'
-'nothiug more Most wild flowers he ac-
counts weeds our splendid Kamia is to him
only sheep-poison; he does no, know that the
Rho.do derdron grows in his woods he never
noticed the Fringed Gentian, opening its purple
petals in the October sun, by the side Of the
cart as he drove the oxen home with load of
maize ears ard punkins, But he spies the May
flower blossoming ha if hidden under dry leaves
and with led grass. He gathers handful,
smells their spicy fragrance. and carries them
home to his grand-child. He tells her to put
them in her little mug, and perhaps as it is
Sunday, he takes her on his knee, and te Is her
the story of the Pilgrims, of their first dread
full winter on cold and unknown shore, of
their joy when the snow melting away in the
spring, disclosed the first spot of bare ground,
of their curiosity and interest to see what grew
in this new land of their delight in finding this
flower unknown in Europe.
The intrinsic graces of this little plant togeth-
er with The story of its discovery by the
Pilgrim giving them on earnest of more &c
nial season and speaking hope to their despair
ing hearts, make it the flower of sentiment.
Yankee land is not wholly devoid of romance,
since the May Flower grows there AS soon as
the snow disappears from the hill sides, boys
and oirls and the lovers of Nature of all ages
, watch for the opening of the flower buds, and
> strive to see which sha be the first TO bring
home an expanded blossom Emerson, in his
poem on Forbearance, saws
" Hast thou named all the birds without gun!
Loved the wood rose and left it on its stalk p"
Now to leave woodrose on its stalk is no
great exercise OF forbearance, considering that
, it has very tough stem thckly beset with wild
prick es, and drops its petals 50 easily that they
: are a most always sure TO ia of when one at
Temps to sever branch but to leave the frs
May over of Spring uneathered, would re-
quhe great deaI Of torbssrance Indeed i
would appear TO be an unnecessary exercise 0
that virtue For il seems as if the May Flow
ers liked to be gathered and loved, lhos,
:. that love them, so ready are the undevel
uped buds to open in vase or p ate of moss
The flowers look even fresher after being KEEP
day or two in wafer They are such over
of water and melting snow, tha, in dry an'
windy spring they do not attain their usual siz
and beauty. fhe earliest blossoms are ihterio
: to the later ones and only valued as the Fl st
The tine of bossomng varies in different years
ard the flowers are much handsomer in some 10
caliies than in others. They prefer sand
sol IN the edge of a wuod, or hill side in tn
vicinity of forest and like to be within whis
K pering distance of pine tree.
r. In Vermont, where the plant is found i
" great abundance and perfetaion it occAsionl
Nc begins to blossom in March and very rarely
~ AS early as Easter Sunday. but the flower
Va reach their full perfections about the first OF Ma
40 or little earlier. Than the crop is ready {
10. gathering, no harvest is mole eagerl
=, gathered. The young betake themselves to i
u' vel known haunts, with the eXuberant dellgl
u that attends the first Spring rambles in cl
u0 mate where Winter closes the woods f'
u months in year. The unpraclccd eye do
" not easily discover the plant for it grows fiat n
no on the ground, and often hides its green al
brown leaves as well as its flowers deep amor
the dry grass. The most beautiful specime
are frequently found deeply imbedded in h
on lock of har-cap moss. A novice If there
i've one in the party will Wander about slow
- making up boquet, while the adopts tear
ndl the PROSTATE stems with great rapdity. cont
Of ualy exclaiming that they have found the 10y
tfu liest white ones or the very pinkest one Il
IAN ever were seen Having filed their noderi
ms sized baskets, they have recourse TO handk
mes chiefs aud shawls tied up by the corners; a
lro- if the Spring winds forbid the shawls being
Igo- ken tiom the shou ders, the frock held up
and the hem on each side, pannier like, receive
une fragrant load
into At length the party, garanded and hung W
it their beautiful buldened reach home, and A
nore down their loans in heaps on the floor of
lean back porch, or on the dining room table. If
not cheeks are glowing and their eyes sparkling
urse derneath tangled and flying locks let loose
lany they attempted to outscamper an April SHOW
er in for the party have probably been sprlnh
ngle and sun dried more than once during the exc
deli sion. When the girls have adjusted the dr.
ltve es they commence the process of picking o.
the This consists in cutting of the inferior flow
vio- aud part ot the caves which arc superabund
The The flowers are then ready for use,-for
with vase or TO be sent to the aged or those who
> out too busy to gather for themselves. One n
with of distribution is for company of young {
ceal to rally atsearly dawn on May morning,
ayes hang bouquets and wreaihs Oh the doors of
'eler, friends. The flowers which are to be sen
Wind; city friends are packed in boxes lined with
weeks The best for this purpose is apecies of fe
We er moss, which may be gathered in large c
sures flakes. A layer of this with the earthly
ira next the hox, is placed on the bottom and s
TN as little water is sprinked upon IT. than the