84 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



Mhich it is difficult to procure seeds, may be readily increased 

 by grafting or inarching : by either process a union speedily 

 takes place. Tlie Dutch elm, U. Major, of English botany, 

 U. Suberosa, of Willdenow, although enumerated as a British 

 species, is supposed to have been introduced here in the 

 time of King William. The tree is of rapid growth, but the 

 timber is not of much value. Dr. Walker even doubts if the 

 common English elm, U. Campestrisj be not also an intro- 

 duced plant, and asserts that it was originally brought from 

 the Holy Land. 



Hawthorn. — {Mespilus Oxyacantha.) 



The hawthorn, although it is sometimes to be met with of 

 a large size, cannot be altogether considered as a timber-tree, 

 neither is it planted with a view to its attaining that size. It 

 is, however, no less valuable, when considered as the best 

 plant we have for the purpose of making living fences. It is 

 widely diffused through the greater part of Europe, and with 

 us in particular ; it is found naturally in a variety of situations, 

 and obtrudes itself upon our notice in the various characters 

 of underwood in the forest or copse, as a detached tree in the 

 park, and forming, as it were, natural fences by the sides of 

 fields, ^vc. 



" As underwood in the forest," Sang observes, *' where it 

 grows spontaneously, it may rather be considered as out of 

 place, and a nuisance. In the park, if growing at the foot of, 

 or near a fine oak, it has an excellent effect. As a detached 

 ti'ee, if large and well formed, the hawthorn never fails to 

 please. When clustered in handsome groupes on the lawn, haw- 

 ihurn trees are very ornamental, particularly when in blossom. 

 As a shrub, or a bush overhanging a rill, in a valley or dell, 

 by the end of a mill, or the side of a cottage, the hawthorn 

 appears to great advantage." 



The timber of the hawthorn, when it attains a proper size, 

 is very valuable, and was much used by the millwright pre- 

 viously to the u^•e of cast-iron, which has latterly been substi- 

 tuted for it. Sang observes, that the timber of this tree is 

 often spoiled throuirh inattention after cutting. If it be allowed 

 to lie in the tree, it soon heats, and becomes brittle and worth- 



