ix.] ANCIENT EVERGREENS APPLE TREES 103 



Bamboos is April and May, just as they are beginning 

 to grow freely ; they then lose no time in forming their 

 new roots. 



One can see no reason why an occasional Apple-bush 

 should not be planted in the shrubbery. What could be 

 more attractive or beautiful, with its lovely spring bloom 

 and clusters of rosy autumn fruit? 



And it may not be out of place to observe here 

 that the tree which provides most food and plenty in 

 our households, and which is best fitted for thriving in 

 our climate, is the Apple. It is essentially a western 

 fruit whenever the word occurs in Scripture it refers 

 not to the apple, but to the Quince or the Citron 

 or Orange. It was probably the Romans, and afterwards 

 the Normans, who brought over with them to Britain 

 some of the original trees ; and in later times the monks, 

 those great horticulturists of the Middle Ages, brought 

 the apples to wonderful perfection, growing them amidst 

 the quiet seclusion of their monastery gardens. It is 

 thought that some of our favourite varieties have held 

 their own during all these centuries. 



Some of the more modern apples are well worthy of 

 a place on the lawn. I know nothing prettier in our 

 gardens than a well-laden Bijou or Worcestershire Pear- 

 main, with its vermilion colouring ; or the Ecklinville, 

 or Warner's King, bending under the heavy weight of 

 their enormous fruit. But the most attractive of all is, 

 perhaps, the Siberian Crab. I have seen it sometimes 

 in gardens in the west of Ireland laden with a 



