>7 
IcosANBiiiA Linn*, 
SNOWY M E S P I L U S. 
MESPILUS NIVEA. 
HE common hawthorn of our hedges would be allowed a Shrub of elegance 
i were not the eye tired with its familiarity ; that is a Mespilus according to the 
received diftinclions ; and this native ot our IVortb Anierka, another ; exceeding by 
many degrees that beauty we have allowed the common kind. The Duke of Nor- 
thumberland, whofe honoured name I have fo irequent caufe to mention in the prefent 
work, gave this among the reft to the .EKT-c/ean Botany. His Grace raifed the Shrub 
from the fruit fent from Nevi Torh, and it lias now flood fomc years in the common plan- 
tation in his garden ; flowering in vaft profuhon every fumnier. Thofe « ho have feen 
the fair Shrub in this ftate, will not afic why 1 call it fnowy : the pure white of the 
flrearaing fpikes of Flowers, which hang from all its branches, give full caufe ; and there 
is fomething in the ftarry difpofition, and wav'd form of the Petals, which calls to mind 
the tailing fnow in a particular manner. 
It is a Shrub of ten feet high ; thick fet with elegant green Leaves, indented with a 
ycnderful regularity at their edges : and the deep Ihining bark is no fmail additional 
grace. The charaaers of the Mespilus are flrongly and particularly inferibed upon the 
Flower ; altho’ the length and waving of the Petals, the firft obvious marks, appear very 
Angular. The Cup has hve divifions ; and the Petals aniwer to the Linn.ean charaaer 
in number, for they are Ave; but by no means in form. Subrotunda et concava, roun- 
difti and hollowed, was an expreflion very proper in deferibing the Petals of the common 
kind, but by no means applicable to thefe, which are oblong and undulated The ee 
nerical charaaers do not reft upon fuch flight diftinaions ; and we may fee by this ’tis 
better not to admit them, for they fubjea the charaaerifticks to uncertainty. One is 
enough that is Axed and invariable ; and the dependence Ihould be alone on that. 
The numerous Filaments are inferted into the Cup, and this declares the clafs of the 
lant to he the Icosandria. They are too many for any of the ClalTes eftablilhed by the 
number of thefe parts ; and they are regularly proportioned : therefore the place of their 
inlernon alone determines it. ^ 
This Shrub may be made a very agreeable article in clumps and fmall plantations, but 
as the value of it wiH depend upon the frefli green of the Leaves and the pure colour of 
th F owxrs. It muft have a free air ; and be kept from the fliade of larger trees. In this 
not hold upon the Boughs quite fo long, will have much more beauty; U fliade turns 
them yellowuE foon a ter they are opened, and without a free courfe oT he air the Leaves 
on the lower prt oi the Plant foon wither. It would be ridiculous to trim it up to a 
d ; for one great article of its beauty is the wild freedom of its growth- and Llural 
pendent pofition of its Flowers among the loofe and d.ftant Branchef. 
Mefpilus I 
