OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 



69 



however, at very different dates, C. Canadensis beginning in 

 June and continuing until well into autumn ; during the month of 

 August the flowers are in their finest form and greatest numbers. 

 It grows 6in. to 8in. high, and notwithstanding its dwarfness, it 

 proves a most attractive object, being not only conspicuous for 

 so small a plant, but chastely beautiful. 



The flowers are exceedingly small, strictly speaking, and are 

 arranged in a minute umbel in the midst of a bract of four white 

 pink-tinted leaves; these latter are commonly taken for the 



CORNUS CANADENSIS. 

 (One-half natural size.) 



petals, and, as may be seen in the illustration (Fig 28), the real 

 flowers will only appear as so many stamens ; but at their earlier 

 stage these are of a yellowish colour; later the purplish style 

 becomes prominent and imparts that colour to the umbel, and, 

 in due time, small fruit are formed. All the while the bract of 

 pleasing white leaves remain in unimpaired condition ; they are 

 arranged in two pairs, one of larger size than the other, some- 

 what heart-shaped and bluntly-pointed, richly tinted at their 



