54 THE FRUITS OF THE COUNTRY-SIDE 



The blackthorn is so called to distinguish it from the 

 whitethorn, or hawthorn, the subject of our first illustration. 

 It is also known as the sloe. A reference to our two 

 illustrations will show that there is no need of any special 

 hints as to distinguishing the two plants In Autumn, and 

 one quite sufficient point of distinction between them in 

 the Spring is that, while they are both a mass of white 

 blossom, in the blackthorn the flowers come out while there 

 are few or no leaves, while in the hawthorn the foliage is 

 well out before the flowers appear. Burns, in the touching 

 lament of Mary Queen of Scots, dwells very happily on 

 the approach of Spring — 



Now blooms the lily by the bank, 

 The primrose down the brae ; 

 The hawthorn's budding in the glen, 

 And milk-white is the slae. 



The distinction in time between the two plants is very 

 truthfully given. While the hawthorn is but beginning to 

 unfold its leaves in the most sheltered positions, the black- 

 thorn is already one sheet of blossom, so that in thinking of 

 the tree the one mental picture that arises to the poet's mind 

 is the profusion of its flowers, no visible leaves, no visible 

 stems, but just one sheet of blossom — " milk-white Is the 

 slae." While the flowers of the hawthorn are strongly 

 fragrant, those of the blackthorn are quite Inodorous. 



The blackthorn, if left alone, will grow Into a small tree, 

 attaining a height of some twelve feet or so. It Is an 

 excellent hedge material, as it throws out a great mass of 

 angular branches, well armed with spines, that interlace and 

 form an impenetrable barrier. 



The dried leaves are sometimes gathered by the cottagers 



