THE SPINDLE-TREE 15 



of cultivation, not only in shrubberies, -where it may 

 be well associated with the white-fruited kind for 

 autumn effects, but also as a standard on lawns ; but 

 unquestionably the most generally known species at 

 the present day is the evergreen Japanese Spindle-tree 

 {E. japon'icus), introduced in 1804, which, with its 

 more decidedly egg-shaped leaves with scalloped 

 margins, luxuriates in the sea-breezes ot our southern 

 watering-places ; and, with foliage often ornamentally 

 variegated with white or yellow, sustains but little 

 damage even in severe winters, and ably withstands 

 the fatal smoke of London. On the south coast we 

 have sometimes seen the inconspicuous blossoms of 

 this shrub crowded with Ked Admiral butterflies and 

 other species of the beautiful genus Vanes'sa. 



The wood of the Spindle-tree seems to have been 

 employed for knitting-needles and spindles by the 

 ancients ; and in England was once used for musical 

 instruments. In Scotland, before the large trees of 

 Forfarshire were used up, their wood, with that of the 

 Alpine Laburnum (Cy'tisus alpi'nus Mill.), was used 

 for the staves, alternately white and yellowish and 

 dark brown or black, in the little pails or noggins 

 known as " bickers " or " luggies," used for porridge 

 or as drinking- vessels. Now, however. Holly- wood is 

 generally substituted for that of the Spindle-tree. 

 Butchers' skewers have long ceased to be made of this 

 wood, or indeed of any particular species, deal and 

 other woods by no means free from the tendency 

 to splinter being commonly employed; but owing 

 to its toughness, Avhich permits of its being pared 

 down to the fineness of a needle, it is still somewhat 



