Ma}' Willow. 155 



but with the difference that the flowers promise life, 

 and the renewal of life ; whereas when the pretty 

 Christmas tapers are lighted upon a tree they are a 

 sign that its end is near, according to Andersen's mel- 

 ancholy story. The horse-chestnut has only been an 

 European tree for the last three centuries, and is one of 

 the happiest importations from Asia. There is an octa- 

 gon of them at the Val Ste. Veronique, and the eight 

 brothers are all equally well grown, tradition says, that 

 eight boar-hounds are buried under them, a hound under 

 each tree. In the heat of summer they offer a delight- 

 ful shade, for their broad leafage makes an impenetrable 

 dome of verdure. 



XXX. 



Willow Spanish Chestnut Walnut Ash and Walnut Beech 

 Young Beech-leaves Light through them Birch Character of 

 Birch It bears extremes of Heat and Cold Birch-bark Sap of 

 Birch Prejudices against Trees Abuse of Painters who study 

 certain Trees Trees and Politics The Birch always Beautiful 

 Willow Spanish Chestnut Its Strength and Longevity Beauty 

 of Foliage of Chestnut Oak and Chestnut Bird-cherry Prunus. 



THE horse-chestnuts are amongst the earliest of 

 the trees in leaf and flower. The willow, as 

 we know, is earlier still, and its leaves are now fully 

 developed, glittering a great deal in the sunshine, when 

 the pleasant May breezes move them. The young green 

 leaves of the Spanish chestnut are rapidly making foli- 



