ORCHARD TREES. 75 



thorn vary, according to their species, which are numer- 

 ous, from white to pure crimson. Only a few of the 

 orchard trees have been cultivated for their flowers alone ; 

 among these we find a species of cherry with double 

 flowers, and a double-flowering almond, which are com- 

 mon in flower-beds. The Virginia crab-apple is also 

 planted for the fragrance and beauty of its flowers ; and 

 if the Siberian species had no material value, it would be 

 cultivated for the beauty of its fruit. 



As I have frequently remarked, Nature is not lavish of 

 those forms and hues that constitute pure organic beauty. 

 She displays them very sparingly under ordinary circum- 

 stances, that we may not be wearied by their stimulus, 

 and thereby lose our susceptibility to agreeable impres- 

 sions from homely objects. But at certain times and 

 during very short periods she seems to exert all her 

 powers to fascinate the senses. It is when in these moods 

 that she wreathes the trees with flowers for a short time 

 in the spring, and just before the coming of winter illu- 

 mines the forest with colors as beautiful as they are 

 evanescent. 



The APPLE-TREE was one of the first trees planted by 

 the original settlers of New England, who could not in 

 the wilderness raise those fruits that require the skill 

 of the gardener. This tree is indigenous in all parts of 

 Europe, Northern Asia, and North America. On this 

 continent are found two native species, of which the Vir- 

 ginia Crab is the only important one. This tree bears a 

 small green fruit, agreeable, odoriferous, and intensely 

 acid ; but our attention is chiefly attracted by its rose- 

 colored flowers, that perfume the whole atmosphere with 

 a sweetness not surpassed by that of the rose. Nothing 

 in the world can exceed the purity of this fragrance, 

 which, in connection with its beautiful flowers, borne in 



