The Legend Of The Holy Thorn Of Glastonbury.

Botanical Description . —Di-pentagynia , Cratsegus , Oxyacantha , E . B . 5 Prtecox , Glastonbury . ( Vide Loudon ' s Encyclopiedia , Plants . ) Cralcegus , from Kpon-os , force , on account of the extreme haudness of the wood of the original CratajgusAvhich appears to be

, Avhat is IIOAV called Pyrus aria , the Beamtree . This is a very ornamental genus of small hardy trees , valuable for the neatness of their foliage , the earliness of their flowers in Spring , and the rich colours of their berries in Autumn .

C . Oxyacantha , o | t / s aKavda , Sharp-spine , is the best hedge plant in Europe , and also furnishes some highly ornamental varieties , especially the double-blossomed and scarlet-blossomed .

The fruit of C . odoratissima is very agreeable . That of the Azaroiir ( ill Z ' aroiir Arabic , according to Gastel aucl John de Souza ) is much esteemed in the South of Europe . In this country it rarely arrives at perfection . Loudon says in another account

, ( Loudon ' s Encyclopedia of Plants , page 1204 . 1 st additional supplement , class XII , order 1 . 1132 , Cratsegus L . ( Kratos , strength ; hardness and strength of wood . ) Rosacea .. Pomte . Sp . 27—27 . " Of all the genera of hardy deciduous

ligneous yjlants in cultivation in British gardens , there is not one Avhich , taking it altogether , can be compared Avith the Genus Cratsegus They are not only hig hly beautiful when in flower ( a period Avhich extends from the beginning of April to the end of July , commencing

Avith C . purpurea , and ending with 0 . cordilta ) , but also Avhen they are covered with ripe fruit , Avhich includes a period commencing Avith C . purpurea ancl 0 . nigra , in the beginning of July , and continuing till the following spring or summer ; C . mexicana 0 . Virgmicaand

, , some other species , retaining their fruit all the winter .... All the species may be trained either as small , handsome , exceedingly jiicturesque trees , or as beautiful and picturesque shrubs , at the pleasure of the cultivator . " ( Arb . Brit ., p . 814 . ) " Most

of the species would make excellent hedges . . . . . All the species will groAv on any soil that is tolerably dry ; but they will not grow vigorously in a soil that is not deep and free , and rich rather than poor . " ( lb . )

"The Holy Thorn."

"THE HOLY THORN . "

THE day is waning , ni ght ' s dark shadoAvs fall apace , A piercing Avind howls through the forest glade ; A wintr ' y coat of SIIOAV envelopes every pilace—The earth is one vast waste of solitude and shade .

A little band of strangers goes this way along , Seeking for shelter from the inclement _ night , _ Wiling their weary route with pious psalm and song , Weary , yet singing praise to God with all their might .

Tired and footsore , and Avith 'bated poiver , At last they halt upon a little mound ; Their leader , while the ni ght clouds o ' er him lower , Asks help ancl strength from Him with Avhom they only can be found . An aged manAvhose hair is whitened b

, y the lapse of years , And tottering steps depend upon his staff's support ; Calm mid the wintry blast , ancl undismayed by fears , Stands enraptured—lost in deepest thought .

And he must needs return o ' er memory ' s space , To that sad day , when sepulchred in living stone , He last had seen his gracious Saviour ' s face , And left Him in His silent tomb to rest alone .

His thoughts go also to that festal day , When empty ancl untenanted the tomb was found , And as his Avandering fancy thus did stray , With holy joy he struck his staff upon the ground .

And as he forced it through the ice-bound soil , New life was poured into the ragged crook ; His staff—companion of his pilgrim toil-Blossomed like Aaron ' s rod as told in holy hook ,