PEACH-BLOSSOMS. 29 



*' The Daffodils were fair to see, 

 They nodded lightly on the lea, 

 Persephone, Persephone ! 

 Lo ! one she marked of rarer growth 



Than Orchis or Anemone ; 

 For it the maiden left them both 

 And parted from her company. 

 Drawn nigh she deemed it fairer still, 

 And stooped to gather by the rill 

 The Daffodil, the Daffodil." 



The end of the story we all know right well, for 

 " Perdita " told us long ago how Persephone let 

 her Daffodils all fall " from Dis's waggon." 



March 25. Again we have had frost and snow, 

 and this time it has done us harm. The early bloom 

 of the Apricot has turned black, and our chance of 

 a crop rests with the later buds. However, there 

 are plenty still ; and now, in words familiar to half 

 the children of England, " the crimson blossoms of 

 the Peach and the Nectarine are seen, and the 

 green leaves sprout." Here our promise is not so 

 good, and we have nothing like the bloom of last 

 year ; in fact, a crop of Peaches and Nectarines in 

 the open air is very uncertain in this Lancashire 

 climate, and many of my neighbours have given in 

 entirely, and have taken to glass-houses. I still 

 go on ; but certainly last year, in spite of the show 



