64 FAMILIAR TREES 



Durham coal-pits, known as " corves "), for hoops, 

 wattles, walking-sticks, fishing-rods, whip-handles, 

 etc. Rustic seats and baskets for gardens made of 

 Hazel-rods, varnished with the bark on, are found 

 to be very durable. This coppice also makes good 

 oven-wood, and its charcoal is suited for crayons or 

 for gunpowder. 



It is for its fruit, however, that the tree is most 

 valued, and it is on this account that it is largely 

 cultivated in " the Garden of England," round Maid- 

 stone. The rows of heavy, dull-leaved, close-grow- 

 ing shrubs cannot be considered ornamental, but in 

 the autumn woods, when 



" The scrambling shepherd with his hook, 

 'Mong Hazel-boughs of rusty brown, 

 That overhang some gulping brook, 

 Drags the ripened clusters down," 



the Hazel gains the charm of association with the 

 careless joys of our boyhood. 



" The scrambling shepherd " will, however, often 

 find, in lieu of the nut he seeks, that chariot of 

 Queen Mab 



"An empty Hazel-nut 

 Made by the joiner-squirrel or old grub, 

 Time out of mind the fairies' coach-makers." 



The grub in question is the Weevil (Balani'nus 

 nu'cum), a tawny-brown beetle that may be seen 

 creeping along the boughs or flying round the 

 nut-bushes in the early summer. 



