Sweet chestnut blossoms 



it is! And when, late in the spring, or 

 indeed right on the threshold of summer, its 

 blooming time comes, it stands out distinctly, 

 having then few rivals in the eye of the tree- 

 lover. The locust and the tulip are just about 

 done with their floral offering upon the altar 

 of the year when the long creamy catkins of 

 the sweet chestnut spring out from the fully 

 perfected dark green leaf -clusters. Peculiarly 

 graceful are these great bloom heads, high in 

 the air, and standing nearly erect, instead of 

 hanging down as do the catkins of the pop- 

 lars and the birches. The odor of the chest- 

 nut flower is heavy, and is best appreciated far 



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