serenity. Every one is acquainted with the additional clearness of a night intervening between wet and clear frosty weather. By the general disposition of the clouds, we may in general prognosticate fair or rainy weather. In the most settled weather, only diurnal cumuli appear; they are well defined, increase towards the middle of the day, and decrease at night. The brightness and heat of the fire in winter, often indicate frosty and clear weather, as does the lodgment of the moisture on the windows, a cold and frosty atmosphere abroad. Lord Bacon has adduced many conjectures why Herons flying high forebode Wind, and Kites doing the same forebode fair weather.

To the above signs of atmospheric changes, might be added the opening of plants in the morning, the early coming forth of Bees, and many others. After showery weather, when the wind becomes still, the mists fill the valleys, the Swallows fly higher, the Dor Beetles fly about in the evening, and the clouds assume more definitive shape and consistency, we may argue that a change to fine weather is at hand.

Of the Prognostics of Seasons.*

The constant desire to know what is about to happen, which our natural curiosity, and the interest we take in future events occasion, added to the use which agriculturists and farmers may make of some knowledge of the approaching weather, have always rendered men very attentive to the signs of the seasons; and made them watch attentively for those circumstances from which experience had taught them to anticipate severe winters, hot summers, late springs, plentiful autumns, and other vicissitudes of the

year.

In order to ascertain the varieties in the Seasons, as indicated by the flowering of plants, we ought to become accurately acquainted with their natural periods, and the average time of flowering which belongs to each species. I have of late made an artificial division of the seasons of different plants into six distinct periods, to each of which

In commemoration of the Seasons and keeping journals, it becomes necessary to use the names of months and days. M. Howard, and the Quakers in general, refuse to adopt the old established names of January, &c., and have adopted a numerical nomination, which it is next to impossible to recollect. I submit whether the following names would be objectionable to them: -Snowmonth, Rainmonth, Windmonth, Budmonth, Flowermonth, Heatmonth, Haymonth, Harvestmonth, Fruitmonth, Grapemonth, Fogmonth, and Wintermonth; corresponding to Nivose, Pluviose, Ventose, Germinal, Floreal, Thermidor, Praireal, Messidor, Vindemiare, Frumaire, Brumaire, &c.; and to the German Wintermonat, &c.

respectively a certain number of species belong. Dividing then the reign of the Goddess of Blooms into six principal portions, we shall begin with the first in the order of phaenomena. The Primaveral Flora may be said to commence with the first breaking of the frost before February; it comprehends the Snowdrop, the Crocus, the Coltsfoot, all the tribe of Daffodils, Narcissi, Jonquils, and Hyacinths, the Primrose, Cyclamen, Heartsease, Violet, Cowslip, Crown Imperial, and many others. The Equinox being also past, and the leaves beginning to bud forth amidst a display of blossoms on the trees, another period may be said to begin, and May ushers in the Vernal Flora, with Tulips, Peonies, Ranunculi, Monkey Poppy, Goatsbeards, and others: at this time, the fields are bespangled with the golden yellow of the Crowfoot, or blue with the Harebells. The whole bosom of earth seems spread with a beautiful carpet, to soften the path of Flora, at this delicious season. By and by, towards the middle of June, the approach of the Solstice is marked by another set of flowers; and the Scarlet Lychnis, the various Poppies, the Lilies and Roses, may be said to constitute the Solstitial Flora. As the year declines, the Aestival Flora, corresponding to the Vernal, paints the garish eyes of the Dog Days with Sunflowers, China Asters, Tropoeoli, African Marigolds, and other plants which love heat. The Autumnal Flora, answering to the Primaveral, then introduces Michaelmas Daisies, Starworts, and other late blowing plants, with their companions, Fungi and Mushrooms, till at length bleak Winter shows only a few Hellebores, Aconites, and Mosses, belonging to the Hibernal Flora of this dreary

season.

Thus, in this our temperate climate, have we a round of botanical amusements all the whole year, and the Botanist can never want for sources of recreation. How different must be the order of phenomena about the Poles of the Earth, where Summer and Winter are synonymous with Day and Night, of which Kirke White has given us a very fine description:

On the North Pole.

Where the North Pole, in moody solitude,

Spreads her huge tracts and frozen wastes around;

There ice rocks piled aloft, in order rude,

Form a gigantic hall; where never sound

Startled dull Silence' ear, save when, profound,

-

The smoke frost muttered: there drear Cold for aye
Thrones him, and fixed on his primaeval mound,
Ruin, the giant, sits; while stern Dismay
Stalks like some woestruck man along the desert way.

In that drear spot, grim Desolation's lair,
No sweet remain of life encheers the sight;
The dancing heart's blood in an instant there
Would freeze to marble. Mingling day and night,
(Sweet interchange which makes our labours light,)
Are there unknown; while in the summer skies

The sun rolls ceaseless round his heavenly height,
Nor ever sets till from the scene he flies,

And leaves the long bleak night of half the year to rise.

March 10. St. Droctovaeus.

St. Droctovaeus. The Forty Martyrs of
Sebaste. St. Kessoge.

Orises at VI. 18'. sets at v. 42'.

FLORA. The Early Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus is by this time in blow; and though in warm situations, and early seasons, it often appears sooner, yet it is then only found here and there; and it is not till about this time, that we can calculate, in general, on seeing these early harbingers of Spring.

The Double Garden Daffodil is sometimes in blow a few days before the Single sort, of which it is only a variety. Shakespeare speaks of "The Daffodil which comes before the Swallow dares."

To Daffodils, from Hesperides, by Herrick.

Fair Daffodils, we weep to see

You haste away so soon;
As yet the early rising sun

Has not attained his noon :
Stay, stay,

Until the hastening day

We are reminded of the first appearance of the Snowdrop and Daffodil, those universal harbingers of Spring, and the earliest of the Primaveral Flora, and of other plants which follow, in the following lines:

The Snowdrop, in purest white arraie,
First rears her head on Candlemas Daie,

While the Crocus hastens to the shrine
Of Primrose love on St. Valentine.
Then comes the Daffodil beside
Our Ladies' Smock at oure Ladye Tyde,
Againste St. George, when blue is worn,
The blue Harebells the fields adorn,
While on the day of the Holy Cross,
The Crowfoot gilds the flowerie grasse.
When St. Barnaby bright smiles night and day,
Poor Ragged Robin blooms in the hay.
The scarlet Lychnis, the garden's pride,
Flames at St. John the Baptist's tide.
Against St. Swithin's hastie Showers,
The Lily white reigns queen of the Flowers;
And Poppies a sanguine mantle spread,

For the blood of the Dragon St. Margaret shed.
Then, under the wanton Rose, agen,
That blushes for penitent Magdalen.

Till Lammas Day, called August's Wheel,
When the long Corn stinks of Camomile.
When Mary left us here below,
The Virgin's Bower begins to blow;
And yet anon the full Sunflower blew,
And became a Star for Bartholomew.
The Passion Flower long has blowed
To betoken us signs of the Holy Rood.
The Michaelmas Daisy, amonge dead weeds,
Blooms for St. Michael's valorous deeds,
And seems the last of flowers that stood
Till the Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude,
Save Mushrooms and the Fungus race,
That grow as Allhallowtide takes place.
Soon the evergreen Laurel alone is seen,
When Catherine crowns all learned men.
Then Ivy and Holy Berries are seen,

And Yule Clog and Wassail come round again.
Anthol. Austr. et Bor.

An old Spring Song begins:

Now fair Daffodilla is come to town,

With her yellow Petticoat and her green Gown.

March 11.

St. Sophronius Patriarch of Jerusalem. St. Aengus. St. Constantine. St. Eulogius. St. Sophronius was born at Damascus, and flourished early in the seventh century.

St. Eulogius came of a Senatorian family of Cordova, and died in 859. His delivery from a prison afforded an example of the efficacy of the Prayers of the Martyrs Flora and Mary, Nov. 24, 851, to whom he wrote epistles of Exhortation, and who in purgatory prayed for the Freedom of the Saint.

MOVEABLE FEASTS.-We shall take occasion today to amuse the reader with some of the Ceremonies belonging to the moveable Feasts, which take place about this time of year.

Eve of Palm Sunday. - Lady Morgan observes: Rome, during Lent, was literally città morta, and no contrast could be more striking than Rome on the Friday, and Rome on the Saturday, preceding Palm Sunday. Naples and Florence yielded up their winter residents to its religious gaieties. The fugitives who had emigrated with the last day of the carnival, returned with the first day of Passion Week. The Porta del Popolo, and the dreary region of St. John Lateran, alike teemed with an eager population. The roll of post carriages, the cracking of the courier's whip, the reading of passports, the overflowing of hotels, the cramming of lodging houses, gave an entirely new aspect to the lately deserted streets.

Palm Sunday.This day, in the missals, is denominated Dominica in Ramis Palmarum, or Palm Sunday, and was so called from the palm branches and green boughs formerly distributed on that day, in commemoration of our Lord's riding to Jerusalem. See T. T. for 1821, p. 96, for a custom in Lincolnshire; and T. T. for 1822, p. 68, for the usual observance of this day in Yorkshire.

The name Palm Sunday comes from the custom of bearing Palm Boughs in Procession, in imitation of those strewed before Jesus Christ. In northern latitudes, Box Olive, and the blossoming Willows, are used as substitutes for real Palm; which tree does not here, as in Judea, grow by the way sides.

Barnaby Googe observes, in allusion to the ceremonies of this day,

Besides they candles up do light, of vertue like in all,

And Willow braunches hallow, that they Palmes do use to call.
This done, they verily beleeve the tempest nor the storme
Can neyther hurt themselves, nor yet their cattell, nor their corne.

Coles also, in his " Adam in Eden," speaking of Willow, tells us: The blossoms come forth before any leaves appear, and are in their most flourishing estate usually before Easter, divers gathering them to deck up their houses on Palm Sunday; and therefore the said flowers are called Palme."

Naogeorgus's Description of the Ceremonies on Palm Sunday, is thus translated by Barnaby Googe: -

Here comes that worthie day wherein our Savior Christ is thought To come unto Jerusalem on asses shoulders brought: