ORCHAED TREES. 



THE orchard trees, though but few of them are in- 

 digenous, constitute one of the most important groups, 

 considered as objects of beauty, to say nothing of their 

 utility. The most of this class of trees belong to the 

 natural order of rosaceous plants, among which are some 

 of the fairest ornaments of Northern climes. Such are 

 the cherry, the peach, the apple, the pear, also the moun- 

 tain ash and its allied species down to the mespilus and 

 hawthorn. These trees are suggestive of the farm and its 

 pleasant appurtenances, rather than of rude nature ; but 

 so closely allied is Nature to the farm, when under the 

 care of a simple tiller of the soil, and unbedizened by 

 taste, that its accompaniments seem a rightful part of 

 her domain. The simplicity of the rustic farm is in con- 

 sonance with the fresh, glowing charms of Nature her- 

 self. A row of apple-trees overshadowing the wayside 

 forms an arbor in which the rural deities might revel as 

 in their own sylvan retreats ; and Nature wears a more 

 charming appearance, when to her own rude costume she 

 adds a wreath twined by the rosy fingers of Pomona. 



The flowers of the orchard trees are invariably white 

 or crimson, oj different shades of these two colors com- 

 bined. Those of the cherry-tree and the plum-tree are 

 constantly white ; those of the pear-tree are also white, 

 with brown or purple anthers ; those of the peach and 

 apricot are crimson; those of the apple-tree and quince- 

 tree, when half expanded, are crimson, changing to white 

 or blush-color as they expand. The colors of the haw- 



