ARBUTUS. S9 



As the leaves of the Arbutus remain all the winter, and 

 in spring are pushed off by the shooting of new ones, the 

 tree is always clothed. In June the young leaves are ex- 

 tremely beautiful ; in October and November it is one of 

 the most ornamental trees we have ; the blossoms of the 

 present, and the ripe fruit of the former year, both adorn- 

 ing it at the same time. There is an Arbutus now in the 

 garden (in October) before my window, more lovely than 

 I can find language to express. When other trees are 

 losing their beauty, this is in its fullest perfection ; and 

 realises the exuberant fiction of the poets, — bearing at 

 once flowers and fruit : 



" There is continual spring, and harvest there 

 Continual, both meeting at one time ; 

 For both the boughs do laughing blossoms bear. 

 And with fresh colours deck the wanton prime. 

 And eke at once the heavy trees they climb. 

 Which seem to labour under their fruit's load : 

 The whiles the joyous birds make their pastime 

 Amongst the shady leaves, their sweet abode. 

 And their true loves without suspicion, tell abroad." 



Spenser's Faerie Queene. 



" Great Spring, before. 



Greened all the year : and fruits and blossoms blushed 

 In social sweetness on the self-same bough." 



Thomson's Spring. 



" the leafy arbute spreads 



A snow of blossoms, and on every bough 

 Its vermeil fruitage glitters to the sun." 



Elton. 



This tree is a native of Greece, Palestine, and many 

 other parts of Asia ; of Ireland, and of many parts of the 

 south of Europe. In Spain and Italy the country-people 

 eat the fruit, which' is said to have been a common article 



