AND THEIR CULTURE. 



275 



ter seeds on the ground, and leave them to their 

 fate. 



The Common Hawthorn is rendered classical by 

 our national poetry and songs, and while in blossom 

 is one of the most beautiful large shrubs we possess. 

 Where the purpose is ornament, it may, with great 

 propriety, be introduced as underwood in the out- 

 skirts of a plantation where there is a south or south- 

 west exposure ; but it scarcely flowers in situations 

 where it is much shaded from the sun. It may be 

 planted in pits when two or three years old, its 

 shoots being previously shortened, as was directed 

 for those of the sweet-briar. It may also be propa- 

 gated from seeds in the same manner as the last 

 mentioned plant ; but the haws should be kept in a 

 heap covered with earth for twelve months after they 

 are gathered, as none of them germinate till they have 

 been two years in the ground. The proper season 

 for sowing them is from December to March. The 

 growth of hawthorn may be greatly accelerated by 

 the application of lime. 



In order to make the forest as cheerful as possible 

 during the winter months, every sort of evergreen 

 that is hardy enough for the purpose, should be in- 

 troduced among the underwood. Of this kind of 

 plants none deserves higher regard than the common 



s 21 



