THE HAWTHORN 55 



and, later in the day, young lovers 



" In other's arms breathe out the tender tale, 



• Beneath the milk-white Thorn that scents the evening gale " ; 



whilst Goldsmith tells us that the shade may be 

 pleasing to others besides Milton's shepherds and 

 Burns's lovers : — 



" The Hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade, 

 Por talking age or whispering lovers made." 



The scarlet variety of the May, when in flower, has, 

 by itself, perhaps too glaring an effect, making one 

 feel oppressed with heat through the eyes, as, by its 

 powerful perfume, through the nostrils ; but it is 

 admirable when in a clump with several of the white- 

 blossomed forms, especially if in a shrubbery with a 

 neighbouring Laburnum. Thorns are pleasing when 

 thus placed on the edge of the lawn or park, on the 

 outside of the belt of trees, or in their most frequent 

 situation, the hedgerow. Undoubtedly, however, the 

 most effective use of Thorns is, either singly or in' 

 clumps, in the park, for they are rather too untidy for 

 the lawn , or in the wild garden, especially on any 

 elevated knoll. The landscape-gardener of the future 

 will think himself fortunate if he find one or two 

 venerable Thorns, with much divided boles, and with 

 blossom-laden boughs yearly sweeping to the ground, 

 ready to his hand in such situations. 



The gay colours of decay, the sign of autunm's 

 reign and of winter's approach, the tattered ensigns 

 of beauty waved aloft in forlorn hope of the fight 

 against the blackness of winter, the end of which is 

 foredoomed, have formed the theme of the poet less 



