DECIDUOUS TREES. 433 



THE WHITE-FLOWERING DOGWOOD, Cornus florida. Fig. 141 

 is a portrait of a remarkably fine specimen, on the grounds of 

 E. B. Gardett, Esq., of Germantown, Pa. It is about sixteen feet 

 in height, thirty feet across the longest spread of its branches, and 

 ten inches in diameter of trunk. In the woods it often reaches the 

 height of twenty to thirty feet, and is generally found wild on or 

 near the banks of streams. It is remarkable for the size and 

 showiness of its white blossoms, which make their appearance in 

 April, before the leaves, and cover the tree like immense snow- 

 flakes. They are from two to three inches in diameter. The 

 leaves are in opposite pairs, and vary in color on different trees 

 and localities from a light grayish-green to dark-green, those which 

 are light-colored being rougher in surface ; glossiness being usually 

 associated with the darker color. The prevailing tone, however, is 

 a light green early in the season, becoming somewhat darker and 

 more glossy at the close. The tree is too common to be fully ap- 

 preciated. Those who have been familiar with it only in the woods, 

 can form but a poor idea of its beauty when grown in rich deep 

 soils and open exposures. In such places it assumes an umbrella 

 form, and is not only superb in its April crown of white blossoms, 

 and its massy head of summer leaves, but in autumn, its foliage 

 turning to a deep red, makes the tree a brilliant companion of the 

 varied-hued maples, the golden sassafras, the scarlet oak, and the 

 glowing bronze of the liquidamber. Besides being of an umbrella 

 form in outline, this dogwood is peculiar in the sharp stratification 

 of the lights and shadows of its foliage. The fruit is scarlet, but 

 quite small. 



We advise planters who intend to give this tree an open place 

 on the lawn, to obtain their trees of small size from a good nursery 

 instead of taking trees from the woods, as the latter rarely grow 

 well, or become so well-formed trees. To develop the great beauty 

 of the dogwood it is absolutely necessary that the soil be well 

 drained, deep, cool, and rich. 



Nurserymen in obtaining seed of this variety to propagate, 

 should endeavor to take it only from those trees which are observa- 

 ble for the purity and abundance of their summer foliage, and its 

 brilliancy in autumn. It is a tendency of most gay autumn-tinted 

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