HAWTHORN. 267 



In the French language it is also called 

 Epine blanche ; in Spanish, Espino bianco ; in 

 Italian, Biancospino, which names are all ana- 

 logous to our white thorn. 



Religious devotees call it the noble thorn, 

 from a belief that it was this thorn which 

 formed the crown of Christ. 



The hawthorn branches are scarce less 

 gaily besprinkled by Flora in the spring, than 

 adorned by Pomona in the autumn, who nou- 

 rishes the feathered choristers with these 

 scarlet haws ; and on this account we would 

 have in our shrubbery 



berry-bearing thorns, 



That feed the thrush." 



And none should omit 



" The hawthorn-bush, with seats beneath the shade, 

 For talking age and whispering lovers made." 



The double-blossomed hawthorn is cer- 

 tainly one of the greatest ornaments of our 

 pleasure-grounds, whether it be kept as a 

 shrub, or trained as a tree. There are two 

 large trees of this description on the lawn be- 

 fore Warwick-house, at Worthing, whose im- 

 penetrable shade defies the beams of So], 

 when he darts his fiercest rays. 



Some of the double varieties are of a fine 

 lake colour, others are white at their first ap- 



