This great hawthorn has a twisted stem; the wood winds round itself in a spiral.

The waggoners who go by know that the great hawthorn bastions are favourite resorts of wood-pigeons and missel-thrushes.

A great hawthorn bush grows on the bank; in spring, white with May; in autumn, red with haws or peggles.

Roses bloomed on every bush, and some of the great hawthorns up which the briars had climbed seemed all flowers.