18 THE APPLE-TREE 



usually they are coincident with the leaves. Sometimes 

 the flower-stems or peduncles are branched, bearing two 

 or three flowers, and in that case there may be a small 

 green leaf or bract where the fork arises. The placing 

 of the petals in the bud at the epoch of expansion may 

 differ in two flowers on the same tree. One petal may 

 stand guard outside the others and free from them, both 

 edges uncovered, while the remaining petals are spiral 

 with one edge under and one edge over; or there may 

 be two guard petals, one on either side ; or sometimes 

 all the petals may be spiral, one margin out, one margin 

 in ; in some cases all the petals stand free as the flower 

 is expanding, with no margin interlapping. Sometimes 

 one petal is missing, and again the petals may be six. 



This infinite variety within the bonds of so great 

 regularity lends a subtle charm to natural objects, that 

 is wholly absent in man's perfected machine-work. Man 

 aims at uniformity, two and two alike; nature aims at 

 endless difiference, every object or even every member 

 of an object having its own character. Much of man's 

 energy is expended in trying to overcome the diverseness 

 of nature. 



Gradually and slowly the flower balloons enlarge and 

 pufif themselves up, the petals standing together at their 

 tips; all the variety is united into a harmony of exub- 

 erance, color and form; then one day there is a shower 

 of genial rain, a warm sun, birds in the air, bees released, 

 grasses soft and lush, and behold! the apple-tree is in 

 bloom, — a great heavenly mound of white and pink ex- 

 haling a faint delicious breath. Then the pulses stir, 

 the dogs bark at the edges of the wood, the fields call, 

 the scented winds lead on fouever. 



