A Fine Blossom. 209 



gradually become straw-coloured, and later still 

 almost white. Finally, under the influence of the 

 showers which usually fall in March, after filling 

 out and becoming visibly whiter day by day, the 

 advanced relay of buds bursts into bloom, and the 

 planter rises one fine morning to find the entire 

 estate profusely decorated with snowy garlands, 

 and the atmosphere heavy with their perfume. To 

 convey any adequate idea of a fine, heavily-bearing 

 estate, in this condition, is beyond my power; 

 suffice it to say, that the millions of snowy wreaths 

 resting on their background of dark-green, luxuriant 

 bushes, closely ranked in even lines, stretching 

 away over hill and dale as far as the eye can 

 reach, produce altogether an effect not readily to 

 be forgotten. 



There are generally two, sometimes three relays 

 of blossoms before all the buds have arrived at 

 maturity (which is no doubt owing to the numbers 

 of buds in each cluster preventing their all coming 

 out together), but the principal one is usually the 

 first, which comes out in March. After a day or 

 two the flowers gradually turn brown and fade 

 away, and the slower and more gradual this process 

 is the better. Rainfall while the blossom is out 

 is much to be deprecated, but once the latter has 

 set, a good shower will be beneficial rather than 

 otherwise. This will wash off the withered flowers, 



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