102 HOW TO PLAN THE HOME GROUNDS 



curve of the tree is fine, the smoot h-barked round trunk , 

 the quaintly shaped twdgs and cheerful-looking light pea- 

 green leaves. The white flowers are apt to bloom bien- 

 nially, and are very attractive, reminding one of those of 

 the white wistaria with its long, loose racemes or clus- 

 ters. 



Memories of spring are always rendered more delightful 

 by visions recalled of apples, peaches, and cherries in 

 full bloom ; indeed, many would be inclined to allow that 

 no pleasanter sensation is produced by any tree than 

 that made by the rounded form of the apple tree in 

 flower. It is fortunate, therefore, that the horticult- 

 urist has been able to grow varieties of these fruit trees 

 which, instead of developing fruit, reserve all their vigor 

 for the purpose of producing greatly increased numbers 

 of larger and more beautifully-tinted blossoms. It has 

 been thought worth while by tree lovers to travel . hun- 

 dreds of miles to enjoy the rare treat of beholding a fine 

 specimen of Parkman's double-flowering Japan ap ple in 

 full bloom, and we are inclined to believe that the reader, 

 if he could see a good specimen of this tree in flower, 

 would agree that the time occupied in much travel, for 

 the purpose of seeing it, had not been ill spent. 



The trouble with the horse-chestnut, although it is cele- 

 brated for its flowers and foliage throughout the kno\\Ti 

 world, is that the time comes in July and August when, 

 in America at least, the beautiful delicate green crinkled 

 leaves turn brown, and fall long before the foliage of 

 other trees. 



The mountain ash and ash-leaved maple are subject 

 to attacks of insects and disease, and have a certain 

 coarseness and looseness of habit that have tended to 

 render them unpopular, and -the -catalpa, though rapid- 



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