290 SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



to adulterate tea ; the bark furnishes a yellow dye, and 

 with copperas, is used to dye black. 



It is scarcely necessary to describe the appearance of 

 this plant, since it forms the common material of hedges 

 in the neighbourhood of towns as well as in the depths 

 of the country, and is one of the first plants on which 

 we perceive the tender green foliage of spring. Its 

 white and fragrant blossoms too ! who is unacquainted 

 with them, named as they are from the lovely month of 

 May ' The village May-pole, that relic of old times, is 



MAY-BLOSSOM. 



not yet quite forgotten, nor are the May-day garlands 

 of village children yet neglected ; but vainly have we 

 looked for some years past for the true " May," or 

 hawthorn blossoms on May-day. These blossoms now 

 rarely open before the end of the month, or the com- 

 mencement of June. They are succeeded by a profu- 

 sion of berries called haws (hence the name hawthorn}, 

 which in autumn become of a glowing red colour, and 



