The Beauty of fruit-Trees 



a little later, in May, when the lightest wind would 

 send a shower of pink apple-blossom floating down 

 amongst the Lavenders and Lilacs, purples and golds 

 of the May-flowering Tulips ; or, later still, when a 

 few of the shade-loving Lilies would lift themselves up 

 towards the gleams of light shimmering through the 

 branches ; and again, still later, when the autumn tints 

 of the foliage of Cherry, Pear, and Plum would strike 

 another if a sadder note and so fulfil the chord of the 

 year it could be always beautiful, this little orchard. 

 Nor need it be all bare earth in winter, for the spring 

 bulbs I have mentioned will push their way through 

 the grass ; and I should have grass in such a spot, 

 grass that I could allow to grow a little wild and 

 untidy if I wanted to, so that even though my home 

 were a town villa there should be just one corner where 

 I could sit and feel 



" Not in the busy world, nor quite beyond it." 



It is a mistake to think that because fruit-trees are 

 useful they cannot be beautiful. How many of us, if 

 the Apple or Peach were introduced as new flowering 

 shrubs, would not use them gratefully in our garden 

 schemes though they bore never a fruit. 



I have already, in Chapter III., pointed out some 

 of the possible charms of this garden design, but 

 there are many others worthy of comment, and some 

 few of good-natured criticism. Looking from the 

 drawing-room window, it is easy to imagine the fine 

 perspective effect that would be produced by the long, 

 straight, paved walk, flanked on the sunny side by a 

 generous herbaceous border. This border in itself 



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