89 



POTENTIL, (Potentilla.) Calyx ten-cleft ; petals five ; fruit of 



minute nuts placed upon a dry receptacle. 

 TORMENTIL, (Tormentilla.) Calyx eight-cleft ; petals four ; 



fruit as in the last genus. 

 HERB BENNET, (Geum.) Calyx ten-cleft ; petals five ; fruit 



as in the last, but each nut furnished with a long bent awn. 



SLOE. PLUM. CHERRY; PRUNUS. 



BLACKTHORN, or SLOE TREE. Prunus spinosa. 



Plate 6, fig. 16. 



A thorny, crooked shrub, flowering in April, before any of 

 the leaves make their appearance, presenting at that early 

 period of the year a showy look, the whole bush being white 

 with its numerous blossoms. 



" The April air is shrewd and keen, 



No leaf has dared unfold. 

 Yet thy white blossom, radiant sheen, 



Spring's banner I behold. 

 Though all beside be dread and drear, 

 Undauntedly thy flowers appear. 

 44 All other trees are wont to wear 



First leaves then flowers then last 

 Their burden of rich fruit to bear 



When Summer's pride is past. 

 But thou, so prompt thy flowers to show. ' 

 Bear'st but the harsh, unwelcome Sloe." W. Howitti 



The Sloe, however, is not so unwelcome, (at any rate to 

 children.) Cowper says, 



" * * * Or Sloes austere, 

 Hard fare ! but such as boyish appetite, 

 Disdains not." 



In pies, in preserves, and in the making of wine, it is not 

 wholly to be condemned, and after the frost has mellowed it, 

 many persons consider it not unpleasant to the taste. The 

 leaves are lanceolate, serrated, very much of the shape, size, 

 and flavor of those of black tea ; for the commoner sorts of 

 which they are used in large quantities by some of the London 

 grocers. The wood is very hard, knotty, tough, and slow- 

 growing ; it is used by the turner for the teeth of hay-maker's 

 rakes, walking sticks, handles for whips, &c. 



O. S. Wild Plum Tree, Wild BuLlace Tree, the Bird Cherry, and the 

 Wild Cherry, are now and then met with in hedges and woods. 



