MAY. 163 



our own British tree yields in beauty to none of the 

 others, and has surely been more celebrated in the 

 pages of our poets, scarcely one omitting to mention 

 it or praise its pearly blossoms. Its pleasant shadow 

 in summer offers repose to the tired shepherd, who 



"tells his tale 



Under the Hawthorn in the dale," 



and Burns makes it the sheltering canopy for happy 

 lovers in the evening hour, when the May moon per- 

 haps is rising over the clouds upon its glistening 

 clusters. 



Another beautiful object in April and May is pre- 

 sented when the Horse- Chesnut trees put forth their 

 splendid spikes of flowers, most magnificent in aspect, 

 for they are often in such profusion as at a little 

 distance to give each tree the resemblance of one 

 gigantic boquet. 



" The thick Chesnut gloriously array'd ; 



For in its honour prodigal Nature weaves 



A princely vestment, and profusely showers 



O'er its green masses of broad palmy leaves, 



Ten thousand waxen pyramidal flowers; 



And gay and gracefully its head it heaves 



Into the air, and monarch like it towers, 



Dimming all other trees."* 



The Ash, Beech, Birch, Alder, Oak, Scotch Fir, 

 Sycamore, Maple, and many other forest trees are now 

 in bloom. On various heathy hills, also, the common 

 Juniper (Juniperus communis), is in flower with the 

 last year's berries upon it still green; for in this 

 country they are biennial. Several grasses, and among 

 them the sweet-scented Vernal begin to exhibit their 

 spikes, and " Jack-by-the-hedge," (Erysimwn alliaria,) 



* WFLLIAM and MARY HOWITT'S Forest Minstrel. 

 M 2 



