248 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



The Thorn Tree. Crategus. 



Nat. Ord. Rosaceae. Lin. Syst. Icosandria, Di-pentagynia. 



A tree of the smallest size ; but though many of the 

 sorts attain only the stature of ordinary shrubs, yet some 

 of our native species, as well as the English Hawthorn 

 (C oxycantha), when standing alone, will form neat, 

 spreading-topped trees, of twenty or thirty feet in height. 



Although the thorn is not generally viewed among us 

 as a plant at all conducive to the beauty of scenery, yet 

 we are induced to mention it here, and to enforce its 

 claims in that point of view, as they appear to us highly 

 entitled to consideration. First, the foliage — deep green, 

 shining, and often beautifully cut and diversified in form 

 — is prettily tufted and arranged upon the branches ; 

 secondly, the snowy blossoms — often produced in such 

 quantities as to completely whiten the whole head of the 

 tree, and which in many sorts have a delightful perfume 

 — present a charming appearance in the early part of the 

 season ; and thirdly, the ruddy crimson or purple haws or 

 fruit, which give the whole plant a rich and glowing 

 appearance in and among our fine forests, open glades, or 

 wild thickets, in autumn. 



The most ornamental and the strongest growing 

 indigenous kinds are the Scarlet Thorn tree (C coccinea), 

 and its varieties, the Washington Thorn (C populifolia), 

 and the Cockspur Thorn (C. crus-galli) ; all of which, in 

 good soil, will grow to the height of twenty or thirty feet, 

 and can readily be transplanted from their native sites. 



The English Hawthorn is not only a beautiful small 

 tree, but it is connected in our minds with all the elegant, 



