A very peculiar phenomenon has been observed in the woods in this vicinity. It is a deposit of sweet shining secretion on the leaves of certain trees and entirely absent upon others. It is supposed to fall from the pines, which always abound where this "dew" is found. The secretion, or dew, is conspicuous on the leaves of the holly or ivy, and the pine leaves also glitter with it when the sunlight falls upon them. The holly leaves look as if they had been immersed in alum water, but it is also singular that trees of the same varieties can be found growing close together, one of which is covered with the deposit and the other seems to have escaped entirely. The very open winter has encouraged the depredations of an insect upon the holly leaves, which present the appearance of having been riddled with shot. It is in every way a most unusual season, and while the vegetation on the high land is very forward the river marshes, which generally show the first growth of grass in the early spring, have scarcely began to show any green tint.

The alder bloomed in January and was killed, and now the peach trees are in full blossom. - P. S. Hunter, Essex Co., Va.

[Note. - Honey dew is a secretion from aphides, or plant-lice. These insects are provided with two hornlike appendages near their posterior extremity, and from them the sweet secretion is made. This secretion attracts ants and other insects, and it is supposed to serve as food to newly-born lice. Ants often "milk" the lice by stroking the nectaries with their antennae. - Ed. Am. G].