352 COKNUS FLORIDA. 
soil, which must be kept moist ; and the situation should be sheltered, though the 
foliage of the plants must be fully exposed to the influence of the sun, otherwise 
they will not flower freely. They may be propagated from seeds, and by cut- 
tings or layers. 
Properties and Uses. The wood of this tree is hard, compact, heavy, 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 Cornus florida, 
Cornus 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 most 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." 
