148 



THE HAZEL. 



hoops, walking-sticks, fishing-rods, &c. ; and from 

 their smoothness and pleasing colour they are 

 well adapted for making rustic seats, and tables 

 for summer-houses. For this purpose they are 

 split, cut to a suitable size, and nailed, in various 

 patterns, to smooth boards of some other wood. 

 They are also excellent as fire-wood, and w^hen 

 converted into charcoal make the best gunpowder. 

 The charcoal crayons, used by artists for drawing 

 outlines, are also prepared from Hazel-wood." 



PEZIZA COCCINEA. 



One of the most beautiful of the British fungi 

 {Peziza coccinea) grows on decaying branches of 

 the Hazel, and may be found lying on the ground 

 in damp places from December to April. In their 

 early stage they are whitish, club-shaped columns : 



