But even in England they are worth cultivating, only it Grouping 

 must be remembered that as the growth will be small, several of Peach 

 trees must be planted together. The picture painted at Kew Trees 

 from the double varieties shows to some extent what a feast of 

 pink blossom may be enjoyed in early April, when the paler 

 flush of Almonds is already fading for the year, and the taller 

 trees, still bare, give them so perfect a background of tapering 

 branch and twig. 



Viburnum Tinus, or Laurustlnus, completes the picture at 

 Kew, with its white flowers, which have been out all the winter. 

 It should be perfectly hardy in the South of England, but, com- 

 ing from the warm climates of Southern Europe and North 

 Africa, it cannot be relied on to resist very severe cold. 

 V. lucidum, a showier variety, with larger flower-trusses than the 

 type, is less hardy, but deserves a sheltered position as it pro- 

 vides flower at such a valuable time. 



With these rose-coloured Peaches may well be grouped 

 some of the white blossoming trees out at the same season. 

 The choice is great in April, as most of the Cherries, Plums, 

 and Pears are in flower. Those with slender branches and light 

 bunches of flower are perhaps most suitable for the purpose, 

 such as the Wild Cherry, Prunus avium, or the Siberian 

 Cherry, Prunus chamcecerasus, which has delicate flowers 

 and pretty dark green foliage, and rarely grows more than four 

 or five feet high ; or Amelanchier canadensis, with showers of 

 white flowers and tiny tips of golden green. Or the group of 

 Pink trees may be placed where it will be relieved by a back- 

 ground of Ilex, Yew, or any dark Evergreen, and for a richer 

 effect against Prunus Pissardi^ whose dark, plum-coloured leaves 

 make a good contrast. 



109 



