THE BAWTHOMK. 51 



grand group were obliterated. We have noted many- 

 interesting " sports " on our own pink and scarlet thorns 

 that only needed to be "fixed;" by grafting and other 

 modes that are commonly pursued, to prove useful additions 

 to the lists of established kinds. 



In selecting thorns for the garden it will be well to 

 ensure a goodly proportion of the single scarlet and pink 

 varieties, for these make a double display, their red berries 

 being fully as ornamental in autumn as their beautiful 

 flowers are in the early summer. Moreover, where there 

 are plenty of haws there will usually be plenty of birds, 

 and the glorious song of the thrush is as much to be 

 desired in a garden as any of its other delights. Of the 

 splendour of the double varieties there can be no question 

 at all, but they produce no berries, and the individual 

 flowers are, in our opinion, far less beautiful than the single 

 kinds. But tastes differ ; and on that point we shall say 

 no more, as we shall find matters of fact enough to fill out 

 our pages. 



A selection having to be made for the borders and 

 shrubberies, it will be proper to suggest that the Glastonbury 

 thorn should be included in it. This is the variety that is 

 said to flower on Old Christmas Day, and we have actually 

 seen it in flower on the 6th of January on our cold land in 

 the Valley of the Lea ; but it has happened only once in the 

 course of nearly thirty years. At Glastonbury and else- 

 where in the west of England the event may be looked for 

 whenever mild weather occurs at midwinter, and in that 

 is to be found one of the points of interest attaching 

 to this variety. Amongst other points of interest must 

 be noted the fact that this variety produces a brilliant 

 show of large golden-green leaves long before any other 



