THE GUELDER EOSE. 331 



September its bunches of coral berries are very ornamental, 

 and in October it is yet more conspicuous. The foliage 

 then assumes a deep crimson-purple hue ; and if the tree, 

 as is frequently the case, be associated with the bright 

 yellow foliage of the Maple, no garden, however richly 

 stocked with the most showy flowers, presents so gorgeous 

 an appearance. It is said that in Siberia the berries are 

 made into paste with honey and flour, and eaten as food ; 

 but this is scarcely credible, so exceedingly offensive is 

 the odour which they emit. Long after the trees have 

 been stripped of every leaf, the clusters of crimson berries 

 at the extremities of the branches retain their bright ap- 

 pearance, drooping indeed, and shrivelled with the frost, 

 "But nevertheless very attractive to the eye. The wood, 

 like that of the Spindle-tree and Cornel, is much used for 

 making skewers; indeed the name of Dog-timber, which 

 properly belongs to the Cornel, is in many places given to 

 all three of these shrubs. 



The Guelder Kose-tree of gardens, 



" Tall, 



And throwing up into the darkest gloom 

 Of neighbouring Cypress, or more sable Yew, 

 Her silver globes, light as the foamy surf 

 That the wind severs from the broken wave," 



is a variety of this species, differing from the usual charac- 

 ter in having all its flowers barren and crowded together 

 in the form of a globe : hence it derives its name of Snow- 

 ball-tree. This is a very desirable tree to plant among 

 other shrubs, both for the sake of its flowers and on 

 account of the rich purple hue of its foliage in autumn. 



