Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-05-01

ter and melting snow, that in dry and
windy spring they do not attain their usual
size and beauty. The earliest blossoms ure
inferior to the later ones, and only valued
us the first. The time of blossoming varies
in different years, and the flowers are much
handsomer in some localities than in others
They prefer sandy soil in the edge of a
wood, or a hill side in the vicinity Of Il for
est, and like to be within whispering dis
tance Oft pine tree.
AT B.attleboro, Vermont, where the plant
is found in great abundance and perlection
it occasionally begins to blossom in March
and, very rarely,-is early as Elster
Sunday, but the flowers reach their foil
perfection about the first Of May, or Il little
earlier. Then the crop is ready for gather
lng,-and no harvest is more eagerly gath
cred. The young betake themselves to its
well-known haunts, with the exuberant de-
light that attends the first Spring ramblcs
in u climate where Winter closes the woods
five months in a year, The unprlcticed eve
does not easily discover the ulant. for il
grows Hat upon the ground, and often hides
its green and brown leaves as well as Its
flowers deep among dry grass The most
beautiful specimens are frequently found
deeply imbedded in n hillock OF hair-cLp
moss. novice, If there be one in the tAr-
ty. Will wander about, slowly making up "A
bouquet, while the adopts tear up the pros
trate stems with great rapidty, continually
exclaiming that they have found the love-
liest white ones or the very pinheSt ones
that ever were seen Having filled their
moderate sized baskets, theyhaye recourse
to handkercniefs, and shawls tied up by the
corners and ii the Spring winds forbid the
shawl being taken from the shoulders, the
trock held up by the hem on each side, pau
nier-like, receives the fragrant load.
at length the party, garlanded and hung
with their beautiful burIend reach home and
fling down their loans in heaps ON the floor
of the back porch, or on the dining-room
table, Their cheeks are glowing, and their
eyes sparkling underneath tangled and 1y-
ing locks let loose as they attempted to out
scamper an April shower.-for the party
have probably been sprinkled and sun-dried
more than once during the excursion
W hen the girls have adjusted their dresses
they commence the process of picking over.
This consists in cutting off the inferior flow
ers, and part Of the leaves which are super
abundant. The nowe. are then ready for
use,-for the vase, or to be sent to the sick,
the aged or those who are too busy to
gather for themselves. One mode of dstri-
button is Tor company OF young girls to
rally at early dawn on May morning, and
hang BOUQUETS and wreaths on tho dnors
OF their friends. The flowers which are to
be sent to city friends are packed in boxes
lined with moss, The best Tor this purpose
is a species OF feather moss which NAV ha
gathered in large clean nlkes. \ layer Of
this, with the earthv side next the b,x is
placed on the bottom and sides. a little wa
ter is sprinkled upon it. then the nnwprs
are laid in loosely and evenly, without he
ing made into bouquets. Over the flowers
is land another flake of moss which ais,
receives slight sprinklinr. Sometimes a
wreath Of the choicest buds and h,o.,o,n,
is placed on the ton of this lyer of moss.
covered by white tissue paper The lid is
nailed, and the box is committed to the ,x
pressman, and that important functionary
receives at the same time II suitable lniuuc-
tion not to let the package be delayed on
the way lest the lowers should fade before
reaching thelr destination. But they bear
transportation remarkably well, spray
VI May mowers Hit'eheu unler pressure ani
"IaPieu III tissue paper with IA lew stems ot
wet moss mas been sent IN letter thousands
OF miles to the West ,pnH, weiegm~d with
dfiiSitg BYcR on III. nrairins. iu,,g., nt b.,
evergreen hills. and ocean shores oi u brn,vn
farmhouse. and rreyhuired parents and
renewing all tnG sweet memories oil child
hood.
The Nav flower does not partake of the
nomadic character of our tnrul,tinn II
does not boasts of the progress Of Its species.
nor exhaust the soll il clInys to. II refuses
to flourish in gardens. and become civil
lied flower. | taken nm in autumn Win
the sod. and placed in n window bed. it wi
blossom once to cumnensnte for the trnull.
W hen this is done. The pL.nt withers. and
its spirit flies back aeun to the forest. To
nestle in some mossy mound bestrown win
pine and hemlock cones
TO be convinced of the interest felt in
this flower by those who have been ucouaint.
ed with il in child. take a hanIfuI
andwalk along Washin, ton streetor Bro,d-
wnv. and observe thu. rec,onition the INV
ers receive from some of the persons Won
meet.-tht Involuntary look of surrrise and
pleasure-while n bououet of grern- bonsn
flowers would excite no visible notice. Step
into a sbou and ash f,r soma articles Y,,n
are Obliged to repeat vour request. for the
eve of the vounp man vou addressed cnu,,ht