THE BLACKTHORN. 



snow of the winter wliicli lias just passed, in- 

 stead of forward to the bright days of spring, 

 which are coming. A single primrose, a leaf- 

 bud of Hawthorn or Elm — either of these is a 

 prophet in whom we place unbounded confidence ; 

 they are emblems of soft west winds and sunny 

 showers : but the Blackthorn bespeaks our at- 

 tention to the possible return of hlack east winds, 

 frosty nights, and nipping blights."^ 



Xor does the Sloe-tree find a champion in the hus- 

 bandman. It is by no means particular in its choice 

 of soil and. situation, but thrives everywhere. 

 Its long creeping roots extend so rapidly, that in 

 the course of a few years a single plant would, if 

 left unmolested, cover an acre of ground.f Thus 

 left to itself, it has no disposition to assume the 

 character of a tree, but forms a low thicket, to 

 the exclusion of every more valuable plant, and, 

 if growing in the neighbourhood of sheep-walks, 

 most unceremoniously levies contributions from 

 every woolly visitor who comes within reach of 

 its knotted and thorny branches. If, by being 



This tree iisuaUy blossoms while cold, north-east winds blow : 

 so that the harsh, rugged weather obtaining at this season is called 

 by coimtrv people, ' Blackthorn winter.'"' — -White's Stlhor/ie. 



' The name of !Mere-dn-Bois {Jlotlier of the Wood) is applied 

 to the Sloethorn in France, m the neighbourhood of Montai'gis. be- 

 cause it has been remarked there, that vrhen it was established on 

 the marsfins of woods, its underground shoots, and the suckers which 

 sprung: up from them, had a constant tendency to extend the wood 

 OTer the adjoining fields ; and that, if the proprietors of lands ad- 

 ioinina- forests where the Sloethorn formed the boimdary. did not 

 take the precaution of stopping the progress of its roots, these would, 

 in a short time, spread over their property : and the suckers which 

 arose from them, by anording protection to the seeds of timber trees 

 (which would be deposited among them by the wind, or by birds),, 

 would ultimately, and at no great distance of time, cause the whole 

 to be covered with forests.' ' — Loudox. 



