64 FAMILIAR TREES 
Durham coal-pits, known as “corves”), for hoops, 
wattles, walking-sticks, fishing-rods, whip-handles, 
etc. Rustic seats and baskets for gardens made of 
Hazel-rods, varnished with the bark on, are found 
to be very durable. This coppice also makes good 
oven-wood, and its charcoal is suited for crayons or 
for gunpowder. 
It is for its fruit, however, that the tree is most 
valued, and it is on this account that it is largely 
cultivated in “the Garden of England,” round Maid- 
stone. The rows of heavy, dull-leaved, close-grow- 
ing shrubs cannot be considered ornamental, but in 
the autumn ‘woods, when 
“The scrambling shepherd with his hook, 
’Mong Hazel-boughs of rusty brown, 
That overhang some gulping brook, 
Drags the ripened clusters down,” 
the Hazel gains the charm of association with the 
careless joys of our boyhood. 
“The scrambling shepherd” will, however, often 
find, in lieu of the nut he seeks, that chariot of 
Queen Mab— 
“An empty Hazel-nut 
Made by the joiner-squirrel or old grub, 
Time out of mind the fairies’ coach-makers.” 
The grub in question is the Weevil (Balani’nus 
nu'cum), & tawny-brown beetle that may be seen 
creeping along the boughs or flying round the 
nut-bushes in the early summer. 
