MAY. 65 



tliG snowy balls of the guelder rose ; and on 

 the low boughs of the Judas tree {Cereis Sili- 

 quastmm) the beautiful pink flowers are 

 ckistering in abundance. Its large showy 

 leaves are eaten on the continent in salads, as 

 are also those of the Canadian species, by the 

 settlers in the woods. The floAvers have a 

 slight and agreeable acidity, and are in France 

 fried in batter and eaten; while the wood, 

 finely veined with black and green, takes so 

 good a polish, as to be well adapted for the 

 cabinet maker, and the young branches are 

 used for dyeing wool. 



Not less beautiful than either of the pre- 

 ceding flowers are the golden clusters which 

 now hang down from the labiirnum, (Cytisiis 

 laburnum.) This plant, which grows very 

 abundantly on the Swiss mountains, is called 

 by the French Cytise des Alpes. The wood of 

 the laburnum is so very valuable, that it has 

 been a matter of surprise that the tree should 

 not have been cultivated for its timber. Even 

 though growing to a comparatively small size 

 in our country, it is very useful for many 

 purposes. The Eomans thought this wood 

 next in valvie to ebony, and though this is not 

 so hard as that wood, yet, from its durability, 

 furniture made of it is stronger than that 

 manufactured of mahogany. The blossoms 

 of the laburnum are very fragrant, and their 

 hue gave to it the common country name of 

 goldfm chain. Llany persons are affected with 

 head-ache by their odour, and the seeds have 



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