III. 



CUPULIFER^. 



CORYLE^. 



THE HAZEL. 



CORYLUS. 



The hazel comprises an ahnost endless number 

 of varieties, which are represented by the cobnut 

 and the filbert. 



C. Avellaiia, the common hazel, is rarely seen 

 to attain the dimensions of a tree, but as a bush 

 it is known to everyone. A vigorous constitution 

 enables it to adapt itself to nearly every soil 

 and situation, from cultivation on the lowlands 

 to raising itself out of crevices of rocks in the 

 hills, perhaps from a nut deposited by a dormouse 

 or a squirrel. 



The large ovate leaves of the hazel are of a 

 dull green colour. In the autumn they turn to 

 a rich yellow, and are retained for a considerable 

 time after being affedled by frost. The male 

 catkins appear in twos and threes late in the 

 year. The little crimson female flowers begin to 

 show themselves singly very early in the spring, 



