78 THE APPLE-TEEE. 



to know if there were any preceptible difference in transatlantic 

 bloom, and there was absolutely none ! The colour was the same, 

 and the fragrance was the same as that in the orchards of Kea 

 in the olden time, and thus do one touch of nature make the 

 whole world kin. 



In White's Calendar we find the 22nd April and the 25th May 

 as the earliest and latest flowering of the apple, and this, among 

 notes on Ashes, Elms, and Oaks, is, I believe, the only mention 

 of the apple in the classic history of Selborne. 



I have often noticed that oxir orchards in Cornwall are at the 

 top of their bloom at the end of the first week in May, but this 

 late spring the middle of May barely saw the orchards in prime. 

 Mr. Euskin says: — "of all the lovely things which grace the 

 spring time of this fair temperate zone, I am not sure but the 

 blossoming of the apple tree is the fairest." 



There is a natural curiosity regarding the origin of trees as 

 there is concerning the origin of families. 



The Eibston Pippin was raised in Eibston Park near 

 Knaresborough, from a pippin apple brought from France before 

 cross-fertilization was dreamed of. 



The Woodstock Pippin, or Blenheim Orange, was a stray 

 seedling first found in Woodstock Park, and what a mighty 

 progeny has this tree spread over the land ! 



The Golden Pippin is said to have been raised in Perham 

 Park, Sussex, and though this sort long ruled high in Europe, 

 it has done nothing in America. 



The Q-illiflower is allowed on all hands to be a Cornish 

 Apple, indeed it is a child of our soft dripping climate, and 

 will not do elsewhere, but I have never heard what particular 

 orchard had the honour of giving it birth : it would, however, ill 

 become anyone speaking of apple culture in this room, to forget 

 that in the early years of the century Mr. John Vivian 

 was in the habit of sending regularly to George III. a sample 

 of the delicious Cornish Gilliflower (then a new apple), so that 

 if Madam had her whim from Germany, the King had his 

 pleasure from Cornwall ! and the historic garden which furnished 

 the royal basket is close at hand- nay ! we are on the very 

 ground. 



