THE BLACKTHORN. 



241 



deprived of its suckers^ it is compelled to throw 

 all its strength upwards, it will sometimes attain 

 the height of thirty feet, and even in natural situ- 

 ations, where it cannot extend itself laterally, it 

 rises to fifteen or twenty feet. The name Black- 

 thorn" appears to have been given to it from the 

 hue of its bark, which being much darker than 

 that of the Hawthorn, probably originated the 

 name of "Whitethorn'* given to the latter tree. 



The ejjiderrius, or outer coating of the bark, 

 has, in this species, as in most others of the same 

 genus, a tendency to split horizontally, and to 

 curl back while yet partially attached to the tree. 



R 



