THE HAWTHORNS 157 



four inches long, sometimes when old becoming branched* 

 and reaching a length of six or eight inches. Stout and 

 brown or gray, they often curve, striking downward as a 

 rule, on the horizontal branches. The leaves, thick, 

 leathery, lustrous, dark green above, pale beneath, one to 

 four inches long, taper to a short stout stalk, seeming to 

 stand on tiptoe, as if to keep out of the way of the thorns. 

 From the ground up, the tree is clothed in bark that is 

 bright and polished, shading from reddish brown to gray. 

 The flowers come late, in showy clusters; and the fruit 

 gleams red against the reddening leaves. As Vv' inter 

 comes on the leaves fall and the branches are brightened 

 by the fruit clusters which are not taken by the birds {see 

 illustration, page 167). All the year long the cockspur 

 thorn is a beautiful, ornamental tree and a competent 

 hedge plant, popular alike in Europe and America. 



The Scarlet Haw 

 C. pruinosa, K. Koch. 



The scarlet haw found from Vermont to Georgia, and 

 west to Missouri, prefers limestone soil of mountain slopes, 

 and is more picturesque than beautiful. The foliage is 

 distinctive; it is dark, blue-green, smooth, and leathery, 

 pale beneath, and turns in autumn to brilliant orange. 

 In summer the pale fruit wears a pale bloom but at ma- 

 turity it is dark purplish red and shiny. 



The Red Haw 



C, mollis^ Scheele 



The red haw is the type of a large group, ample in size, 

 fine in form and coloring, of fruit and foliage. This tree 



