230 MY GARDEN 



Crabs, but one willingly gives them space for the delight 

 of their short spring rapture. 



Prunus triloba, which is not, correctly speaking, a 

 tree, and P. Pissardii, the purple-leaved Plum, are the 

 only representatives of the Plum family of my acquaint- 

 ance. The first, P. triloba, the Rosette Plum, is 

 shrublike in growth, and wreathes its leafless branches 

 in double bright pink blossoms somewhat resembling 

 but much larger than those of the Flowering Almond. 

 It is said to bloom best when well pruned just after 

 flowering, but I tried this with most disappointing re- 

 sults; whereas, when left alone, it was a veritable 

 bouquet. 



Prunus Pissardii, with its wine-coloured foliage, is a 

 splendid tree. Its small single blossoms are so delicate 

 as to seem like mist against the garden wall, and I can- 

 not but feel that the double-flowered form, Moserifl. pi., 

 must lose much of grace and endearing frailty in the 

 doubling of its petals. The rich foliage of the tree 

 makes it prominent in the garden all during the season, 

 and nothing is pleasanter in its neighbourhood than 

 flowers in the various pink shades. We begin with 

 Flowering Almonds pressed close against it and a trail of 

 pink Tulips followed by Bleeding Hearts, Pseonies, 

 Hybrid Pyrethrums, tall Hollyhocks, and Phloxes. P. 

 Pissardii reaches a height of about fifteen feet. The 

 double-flowering Sloe, Prunus spinosa, flore pleno, is 

 described as very lovely, but as yet we have it not. 



