The Beauty of Fruit-Trees 
a little later, in May, when the lightest wind would 
send a shower of pink apple-blossom floating down 
amongst the Lavenders and Lilacs, purples and golds 
of the May-flowering Tulips; or, later still, when a 
few of the shade-loving Lilies would lift themselves up 
towards the gleams of light shimmering through the 
branches ; and again, still later, when the autumn tints 
of the foliage of Cherry, Pear, and Plum would strike 
another if a sadder note and so fulfil the chord of the 
year—it could be always beautiful, this little orchard. 
Nor need it be all bare earth in winter, for the spring 
bulbs I have mentioned will push their way through 
the grass; and I should have grass in such a spot, 
grass that I could allow to grow a little wild and 
untidy if I wanted to, so that even though my home 
were a town villa there should be just one corner where 
I could sit and feel 
“ Not in the busy world, nor quite beyond it.” 
It is a mistake to think that because fruit-trees are 
useful they cannot be beautiful. How many of us, if 
the Apple or Peach were introduced as new flowering 
shrubs, would not use them gratefully in our garden 
schemes though they bore never a fruit. 
I have already, in Chapter III., pointed out some 
of the possible charms of this garden design, but 
there are many others worthy of comment, and some 
few of good-natured criticism. Looking from the 
drawing-room window, it is easy to imagine the fine 
perspective effect that would be produced by the long, 
straight, paved walk, flanked on the sunny side by a 
generous herbaceous border. This border in itself 
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