Handbook of Tbej:s of the ]^ortiiekn States axd C. 



261 



The English Hawthorn, or the iMay of Eng- 

 lish literature, is the most widely distributed 

 species of the genus, being found as a native 

 distributed over the greater part of Europe 

 ;iiid central Asia, whence it was introtluccd 

 into America and is now naturalized in many 

 localities in eastern United States. It is a 

 species of medium stature, seldom more than 

 20 or 25 ft. in height, of rather upright habit 

 of growth and with trunk 8 or 10 in. in diame- 

 ter. This is more or less ridged and covered 

 with a grayish brown bark of elongated, closely 

 appressed scales. It has been extensively 

 planted for ornamental purposes for centuries 

 in all European countries and few plants equal 

 it in popularity for hedges. So extensively is 

 it grown in England that it is as prominent in 

 the associations of country life there as are 

 the nightengale and sky-lark, and the beauty 

 of the " blossoming May " in spring time has 

 made it famous in literature. It is particularly 

 well adapted to hedge growth, as its many stiff 

 branches armed with numerous sharp thorns 

 make an etlective barrier. It was for that use 

 and for ornamental planting that it was early 

 brought to America. Here it does not seem to 

 be entirely suited to our climatic conditions 

 and has never won for itself the popularity it 

 has in England. 



A few natural and several nursery varieties 

 are found which vary widely from the normal 

 type and some of these are of special orna- 

 inentnl value. Among them are forms with 

 d(juble white, red or variegated flowers, inci'^e 1 

 or variegated leaves, fastigiate or drooping 

 habit of growth, etc., and in one the period of 

 flowering is prolonged until autumn. 



In' Asia the tree is said to he cultivated for 

 its fruit. 



Its wood is heavy, hard and very fine- 

 grained, and is used in turnery. It is said 

 to be the best substitute for Boxwood in wood- 

 engraving. 



)ovntr 



oval 



jAdvca mostly broad-ovatf. 

 1-21-; in. Ions, wido-cuncatc or trtincatc and ontiro 

 at liasc with 1-."! pairs of wide sprcadin',' lnhc^^. 

 irrf'snlarly dentate or incisely serrate at apex, 

 filahrous at maturity: stipules often prominent, 

 semicordate. incisely dentate; petioles slender: 

 liranehlets with numerous short thorns. Floirrrs 

 aliout Vi in. iiroad white or pinkish, in many- 

 flowered corymbs ; styles l-.*?. Fruit ohlons to 

 suhglobose, %-l4 in. long: stones 1 or 2, when 

 in pairs with 2 furrows on the inner side. 



Var. .rautJiovfirpn. Roem., has conspieuen-; y<'l- 

 low fruit. Var. wniior/intn .Tacq.. ovi.rjnally de- 

 scribed as a distinct species, has a single stone as 

 shown in our illnstrat i< ii. 



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