80 FAMILIAR TREF 



Its heavy foliage and close zigzag branching ren 

 it an excellent shade tree for the lawn, and its la 

 white blossoms, each an inch and a half aero 

 relieved by the five long points of the sepals, on the 

 appearance in June and July redeem it from ti 

 charge of monotony. It is, however, in the autun 

 colouring of its foliage that the Medlar has mc 

 claim to beauty. The large, soft, lance-shaped lea\ 

 then present endless contrasts of green, yellow, oran 

 russet and red. Nearly all these colours may, indee 

 be found on a single leaf, one as spots upon anothe 

 and among them appears a vivid but deep red, re 

 rather as blood than as flame ; though in sunshine 

 may truly be said 



" The drooping Medlar's dusky shade, 

 From summer's suns a glad retreat, 

 Lights up with crimson fire the glade, 

 And warms the fleeting autumn's feet." 



Some of the finest old Medlar trees in England are 

 to be seen at Syon House, Ham House, and in various 

 old gardens about Twickenham trees upwards of 

 thirty feet high and with heads nearly forty feet in 

 diameter. 



