132 



THE HAZEL. 



And what can this strange little tree be 

 called ?" said Mr. Longhurst. 



Dear Sir/' said Harriet, it is a nut- 

 bush !" 



Or Hazel/' I added. This never attains 

 the bulk of a timber-tree ; but the wood it 

 produces is nevertheless extremely useful. The 

 first symptoms of returning activity in the trees 

 of the forest, are shewn by the hazel, which 

 hangs out its curious fruit-flowers or catkins, 

 as they are called, as early as the month of 

 January. Its fruit-bearing buds, diminutive 

 as they are, make a beautiful appearance to 

 the observant eye, wdth their dots of bright 

 crimson on the buds. The hazel is met with 



