28 INTRODUCTION. 



year; so that the gloom may be banished at 

 all times as much as possible from the grove, 

 and nature's repose shortened between the 

 plaintive good-night of autumn, and the 

 cheerful good-morrow of spring. 



The hazel and filbert are amongst the num- 

 ber of those trees that blossom the first ; and 

 although their crimson female flowers, which 

 appear about the middle of January, make but 

 little show, yet they should have a place in 

 the shrubbery to display their catkins, that 

 hang with such peculiar grace from the 

 branches, at a season when scarcely any other 

 plant or shrub offers a flower, excepting the 

 rosemary. 



" Sweet-scented flower ! who art wont to bloom 

 On January's frost severe ; 

 And o'er the wintry desert drear 

 To wait thy waste perfume !" 



The furze bush, also, is one of the greatest 

 enliveners of the shrubbery at this season, 

 particularly when allowed to exhibit it's 

 golden blossoms at the foot of some dark- 

 foliaged evergreen. Among the trees of the 

 back-ground, the wych elm, the alder, the 

 willow, and the. osier, flower in March. At 

 the same period, the leafless branches of the 

 almond are covered with blushing petals ; 

 whilst the sloe and plum are most con- 



