HAWTHORN 7 



to contrast it for a moment with the elder, a plant we 

 sometimes find introduced in the hedgerow, to realise 

 this. Whatever our mission, blackberrying, birdsnesting, 

 or what not, if we can only find a place where the hawthorn 

 gives place to an elder-bush we shall find the hedge much 

 more vulnerable than where the mass of closely gathered, 

 thorn-clothed branches of hawthorn bar our passage. 



The hawthorn is known as the whitethorn also, in 

 contradistinction to the blackthorn, the subject of our 

 ninth illustration. This name is not confined to ourselves, 

 as in France the hawthorn is the epine blanche^ in Spain 

 it is the Espino bianco, while in Italy it is known as the 

 bianco spino. The name arises from the comparative 

 lightness of colour of the stem of the hawthorn as con- 

 trasted with that of the blackthorn, but the names are not 

 particularly happy in either case, one of these stems being 

 by no means black, while the other has absolutely no claim 

 to be considered white. 



In the early Summer the tree is a mass of fragrant 

 blossom,' and so another of its popular names is the May. 



of Woods, Fruits, and other Tillage are thereby secured from external 

 Injuries, which would otherwise lie open to the Cattle, and also subject to 

 the lusts of vile persons, we are obliged to maintain a good Fence, if we 

 expect an answerable success to our Labours. I shall therefore enquire 

 out the most proper Trees for that purpose : And first, the VV'hitethom 

 is esteemed the best for fencing ; it is raised either of Seeds or Plants ; 

 by Plants is the speediest way, but by Seeds, where the place will admit 

 of delay, is less charge, and as successful, though it require longer time, they 

 being till the Spring come twelvemonth ere they spring out of the Earth ; 

 but when they have past two or three years, they flourish to admiration. — 

 Worlidge. The Mystery of Husbandry Discovertd, 1675. 

 ' There sawe I eke the fresh hauthorne 

 In white motley, that so swete doth smell, 

 Asshe, firre, and oke, with many a yong acorne. 

 And many a tree mo then I can tell. 



— The Complaint of the Blade ICm'ghi.— Chaucer. 



