196 ARISTOCRATS OF THE GARDEN 



in late April and May, and see the collection of these 

 plants in blossom, he will depart hungry for them 

 and will not rest content until one or more be growing 

 in his own garden. 



In the cooler parts of the temperate regions of 

 western lands there is no more beautiful sight than 

 the Apple orchards in full blossom in the spring unless 

 it be the same orchards in autumn laden with ruddy 

 fruit. But the utilitarian is apt to stifle the aesthetic 

 spirit in so far as this and other familiar sights are 

 concerned. The common Plum and the common 

 Cherry suffer in the same way, yet the winsome beauty 

 of their flowers is undeniable. Again, an orchard of 

 Peach trees in bloom is wondrously pretty though the 

 trees have not the picturesque appearance of aged 

 Apple trees. 



However, if familiarity has dulled spontaneous 

 enthusiasm for the floral charms of these indispens- 

 able fruit trees none, when taxed with the question, 

 will attempt to deny their effective beauty. It is with 

 the near relatives — the brothers, sisters, and first- 

 cousins — of these familiar fruit trees that I am about to 

 treat here, and since the fruits they produce have no 

 comestible value we can drink in their charms un- 

 influenced by the pernicious alloy of utilitarianism. 

 But do not misunderstand me : I am not denying the 



