Crataegus oxycantha has several interesting va- 
rieties, which should not be neglected, some of which 
have been published in the former part of this work. 
The Tansy-leaved Hawthorn, if attended to in its 
early growth, may be trained up to form a lofty and 
handsome tree; but Hawthorns are, too frequently, 
left to take care of themselves, unless connected with 
some legend of wonder, like that which brought into 
note the celebrated Glastonbury Thorn. It is true 
enough that within the precints of the ancient ab- 
bey of Glastonbury, a variety of the common Haw- 
thorn is now growing which usually blossoms in 
winter. It is said to be a descendant of the tree 
which the legend states to have sprung from the staff 
of Joseph of Arimathea. From the testimony of 
persons who have cultivated the Glastonbury variety 
of Hawthorn, it appears that it blossoms regularly in 
May, as do those in our hedges ; but that it also fre- 
quently blossoms in autumn or winter, according as 
it is influenced by the temperature of the season. 
It is not unfrequently found bearing its winter blos- 
soms with its summer fruit, a circumstance which 
may recommend its culture to the notice of the cu- 
rious, although they may not desire to encourage the 
spread of superstition. Seedlings raised from the 
berries of this variety do not produce plants possess- 
ing any propensity to flower in winter, those who 
wish to have the Glastonbury Thorn must propagate 
it by grafting it on a stock of the common variety of 
our hedges. The fable to which we have alluded 
seems to have been a modern invention, for neither 
Gerard or Parkinson mention it, although they no- 
tice the occurrence of the plant at Glastonbury. 
