THE BLACKTHORN. 103 



with a yellowish, tinge ; its grain is fine, and it takes a 

 beautiful polish; but it is not much used in the arts, 

 because it is seldom found of sufficient size, and is besides 

 apt to warp. It weighs, when green, sixty-eight pounds 

 twelve ounces per cubic foot ; and when dry, fifty- seven 

 pounds five ounces. It contracts, by drying, one-eighth of 

 its bulk. It is employed for the handles of hammers, the 

 teeth of mill-wheels, for flails and maUets, and, when 

 heated at the fire, for canes and walking-sticks. The 

 branches are used in the country for lieating ovens ; a pur- 

 pose for which they are very proper, as they give out much 

 heat, and, like the Ash and Furze, possess the property 

 of burning as readily when green as in their dry state." 



It has also been stated that it might be substituted for 

 Box-wood as a material for wood- engraving, in case of any 

 deficiency in the supply of the preferable but more costly 

 wood. It is often spoiled through inattention after 

 cutting ; if it be allowed to lie in entire logs or trunks, it 

 soon heats and becomes quite brittle and worthless ; it 

 ought, therefore, to be cut up immediately into planks, 

 and laid to dry. 



THE BLACKTHORN. 



Prunus spinosa. 



Natural Orcier— Eosace^e. 



CTrtss— IcosANDRiA. Order — Moi^OGYNIa. 



The subject of the last chapter has high claims to be 

 ranked among the most interesting of British trees, being 

 not only a beaiitiful ornament to the landscape at all sea- 

 sons, but possessing a legendary character which secures 

 for it more than the passing attention even of the anti- 

 quary. The subject of the present memoir, however, 

 though its name might lead us to hope that it had more 



