3j2 COKNUS FLORIDA. 



soil, which must be kept moist ; and the situation should be sheltered, tliongh the 

 foliage of the jilants must be fully exposed to the intluence of the sun, otherwise 

 they will not llower freely. They may be propagated from seeds, and by cut- 

 tings or layers. 



Propcrfivs and Uses. The wood of this tree is hard, compact, lieavy, and fine- 

 grained, and is susceptible of a brilliant polish; from which circumstances, it 

 may be substituted for numerous purposes to which box-wood is applied. The 

 sap-wood is perfectly white, and the heart-wood is of the colour of chocolate. In 

 the United States, it enters into the construction of many articles both for utility 

 and ornament, such as the handles of light tools, mallets, toys, &:c. It is some- 

 times used by farmers for harrow teeth, for the hames of horse-collars, and also 

 for shoeing the runners of sleds; but to whatever purpose it is applied, being lia- 

 ble to split, it should never be wrought till it is perfectly seasoned. The shoots, 

 when three or four years old, are found suitable for the light hoops of small 

 casks ; and in the middle states, the cogs of mill-wheels are made of them, and 

 the forked branches are converted into the yokes which are put upon the necks 

 of swine, to prevent them from breaking into inclosed fields. In the parts of the 

 country where it abounds, it serves for excellent fuel. The inner bark of this 

 tree is extremely bitter, and has proved an excellent substitute for the Peruvian 

 bark.* The bark, also, may be substituted for galls in the manufacture of ink; 

 and from the bark of the more fibrous roots, the American Indians obtain a good 

 scarlet dye. An infusion of the flowers of this tree is also used by them in the 

 cure of intermittents. The fruit is sometimes taken as a tonic, in the form of a 

 spirituous impregnation; and it likewise affords a favourite repast for various spe- 

 cies of birds. In England, the sole use of this species is an ornamental shrub ; 

 and, from its large white flowers, "emulous of the purity of snow," which finely 

 contrast with the " forest green," it richly deserves a place in every collection 

 wherever it will thrive. 



* Dr. Walker of Virginia, in an inaugural dissertation on the comparative virtues of the Comus florida, 

 Comus sericea, and Cinchona officinalis, of Linnaeus, after detailing a great number of experiments, 

 remarks : " A summary recapitulation of these experiments shows, that the Cornus florida, sericea, and 

 Peruvian bark, possess the same ingredients ; that is, gum, mucilage, and extracts ; which last contain 

 the tannin and gallic acid, though in different proportions. The florida has mx)st of the gum mucilage 

 and extracts ; the sericea the next, which appears to be an intermediate between the florida and cinchona ; 

 while the latter possesses most of the resin. Their virtues appear similar, and equal, in their residence. 

 The extract and resin possess all their active powers. The extract appears to possess all their tonic pow- 

 ers. The resin, when perfectly separated from the extract, appears to be purely stimulant ; and probably 

 the tonic powers of the extract, are increased when combined with a portion of the resin, as in the spirit- 

 uous tincture." 



