APRIL. 89 



The apple is familiar to us as a plant named 

 in Scripture. Thus the prophet Joel, describing 

 the mournful condition of the land of the 

 patriarchs, when lying under the wrath of 

 Jehovah, says, " The vine is di'ied up, and the 

 fig-tree languisheth, the pomegranate-tree, the 

 palm-tree also, and the apple-tree, even all the 

 trees of the forest are wdthered, because joy is 

 withered away from the sons of men." Some of 

 oui- best commentators, however, are of opinion, 

 that the word translated apple, ought rather to 

 have been rendered citron, as the handsome 

 appearance of this latter tree, both while in 

 flower and fruit, seems, particularly suited to 

 the allusions of the inspired writers. The fruit, 

 too, is highly valued, while the apple of Pales- 

 tine is of an inferior quality. 



Some very ornamental trees of the pear kind 

 are now putting forth their blossoms, and are 

 cultivated by our gardeners for their beautiful 

 flowers. A"^ species of pear {Pyrus salvifolia) 

 with downy leaves, something like those of the 

 sage, and with white flowers, is one of the 

 prettiest kinds. Several of these plants have 

 long silvery white leaves, others narrow silky 

 leaves, like the willow ; while one species 

 (Ptjrus nivalis) has round leaves, as white as 

 its snowy flowers. These trees are beautiful 

 in form, but their fruits are not fit for eating. 

 The ornamental plum-trees, too, are numerous, 

 with their white flowers ; and the pretty flower- 

 ing shrubs of the cherry-tree tribe, have a good 

 ett'ect in the garden or shrubbery. Several of 



