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HAZEL. CORYLUS ; 



OR, NUT TREE. 



Natural order, Amentacea; a genus of the Monacia 

 Polyandria class. 



THE English word, Nut, is derived from the Latin, Nux. 

 The common hazel-nut (Nux silvestris) is found growing 

 wild in most parts of Europe, as also in every part of 

 England. The ancients observed this tree with particular 

 attention in the spring, as they drew from it a good or 

 bad omen for the approaching harvest ; and it has been 

 well confirmed, that " a good nut year makes a good 

 wheat year." It was a remark too conspicuous to escape 

 the notice of Virgil, who writes 



Contemplator item, cum se nux plurima sylvis 

 Induet in florem, et ramos curvabit olentes : 

 Si superant foetus, pariter frumenta sequentur, 

 Magnaque cum magno veniet tritura calore. 

 At si luxuria foliorum exuberat umbra, 

 Nequidquam pingues palea teret area culmos. 



We do not find from what source the word Hazel was 

 derived, but it seems to have been of long standing, and 

 to have given names to several places where the dry, 

 sandy, or stony soil suited its growth ; as Haselmere, in 

 Surrey, Hasulbury, in Wilts, Haslingfield, in Cambridge- 



