272 ON THE HAWTHORN. 



The hawthorn branches are scarce less gaily besprinkled by 

 Flora in the spring, than adorned by Pomona in the autumn, who 

 nourishes the feathered choristers with these scarlet haws, and on 

 this account we should have in our shrubbery 



" berry bearing thorns, 



That feed the thrush," 

 And none should omit 



" The hawthorn bash, with seats beneath the shade." 



The double blossomed hawthorn, is certainly one of the great- 

 est ornaments of our pleasure grounds, whether it be kept as a 

 shrub, or trained as a tree. There was, or perhaps still remains 

 two large trees, of this description on the lawn, before War- 

 wick house, at Worthing, whose impenetrable shade defies the 

 beams of Sol, when he darts his fiercest rays. 



Some of the double varieties are of a fine crimson, rose, and 

 lake colour ; others are white at their first appearance, and change 

 to a faint red as they decay. The double blossoms are less frag- 

 rant than the common variety, which reminds us, says a French 

 writer, of those young females who fear not to change their sim- 

 ple apparel for a more gaudy dress, which fidds nothing to their 

 attractions. 



The foliage of the hawthorn is of the most agreeable medium 

 green, and so highly polished, that the white flowers are reflected 

 on their shining surfaces. 



It has often caused our surprise that men who expend large 

 sums of money in forming gardens of pleasure, and much time in 

 selecting plants, should bestow no time or attention on botany, 

 which would add so materially to the gratification which flowers 

 give them ; for without some slight knowledge of this science, 

 they cannot enjoy the works of nature, because they do not know 

 where to look, or the utility at what they look at. The botanist 

 looks into the flowers of the hawthorn, not only to observe the 

 stigma and to count the chives that surround it, but observes the 

 shape of the five petals, whosei concave forms protect the pollen, 

 and mature it by acting as reflectors. He then sees them bend 

 over their chives, and rest their heads of pollen on the stigma, 

 which has some attractive power not yet defined. He is delight- 

 ed with the regularity and order with which they discharge 



