APRIL 95 



hands, but a pyramidal tree loaded with great lily-white 

 blossoms, one of the fairest that ever eye of man beheld. 

 It is difficult to describe what I felt without seeming to 

 exaggerate ; doubtless it was enhanced by surprise from 

 the suddenness with which the winding road brought me 

 into the presence of such dazzling beauty. It had been 

 no cause for wonder had I found a crowd collected from 

 far and near ; the surprising thing was that not a soul 

 seemed to care to step a few yards out of the way in 

 order to enjoy the marvellous display. We spend lavishly 

 in tawdry street decoration on occasions of rejoicing; 

 quite right too, though the effect obtained is often no 

 more than so-so ; but here was a scheme of decoration, 

 costing nobody a penny, but exquisite in effect, and 

 attracting no more attention than a common haystack. 



Well, I was alone with this splendid tree. Solitude lent 

 an air of unreality to the scene. The cattle browsed 

 unconscious beyond the hedge; the birds were busy in 

 musical discussion about household affairs; not a living 

 creature had any attention to spare except myself. 

 Musing, I began to wonder why we do not ensure greater 

 regularity and frequency in such floral treats. The tree 

 was the common Magnolia conspicua the Chinese species 

 which puts forth its large, fragrant chalices of ivory white 

 before the leaves develop. It is almost as hardy as a 

 horse chestnut ; for, although the gardening books recom- 

 mend it for the south of England, it succeeds perfectly 

 well north of the Tweed, and, where it grows, it never 

 fails to flower abundantly. Why is it not more commonly 

 seen? Our new allies, the Japanese, are intensely prac- 

 tical and business-like, yet they have their annual feast of 

 semi-religious thanksgiving when the cherry-trees come 



