24 THE FRUITS OF THE COUNTRY-SIDE 



The flowers are developed in the early Spring while the 

 tree is yet leafless. These flowers, inconspicuous in them- 

 selves, grow in clusters, the male flowers being grouped into 

 long, pendulous catkins, while the female blossoms are in 

 minute tufts closely adherent to the stems, and only notice- 

 able, from the crimson stigmas, two from each of the little 

 flowers, that surround these clusters. The leaves, as may 

 be seen from our illustration, Plate V., are large and 

 rounded in form, having their outlines strongly serrated, 

 and the veining very conspicuous. The under-surfaces 

 are more or less downy to the touch. When young the 

 foliage is of a clear green, but as it grows older it soon 

 becomes of a somewhat dull colour. As Autumn comes 

 on the leaves turn a good strong yellow and remain on 

 the stems until the season is far advanced. 



The stems of the hazel are very pliable.^ Virgil, centuries 

 ago, commended them for binding other plants. They 

 are used nowadays for weaving into hampers and baskets, 

 the making of hurdles, hoops for casks, and the like. Cut 

 up into faggots they yield a very good fuel for the cottager, 

 and they supply an excellent charcoal for the making of 

 gunpowder, the preparation of filtering beds, and so forth. 

 The tree will also give us walking-sticks or fishing-rods, 

 and, where the branches are sufficiently large, the wood 

 may be used in cabinet work, as it is beautifully mottled 

 and variegated. 



The ancient Romans observed the hazel with particular 



' Kate, like the hazel twig, 

 Is straight and slender, and as brown in hue 

 As hazel nuts, and sweeter than the kernels. 



— Taming of the Shrew. 



