DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 201 



ed by the involucrum, which produces all the effect of a fine 

 white blossom. 



Ill the early part of the season, the Dogwood is one of the 

 o-ayest ornaments of our native woods. It is seen at that time 

 to ^reat advantage in sailing up the Hudson river. There, 

 in the abrupt Highlands, which rise boldly many hundred 

 feet above the level of the river, patches of the Dogwood in 

 full bloom, gleam forth in snowy whiteness from among the 

 tender green of the surrounding young foliage, and the 

 o-loomier shades of the dark evergreens, which clothe with 

 a rich verdure the rocks and precipices that overhang the 

 moving flood below. 



The berries which succeed these blossoms, become quite 

 red and brilliant in autumn ; and, as they are plentifully 

 borne in little clusters, they make quite a display. When 

 the sharp frosts have lessened their bitterness, they become 

 the food of the robin, which, at that late season, eats them 

 greedily. 



The foliage in autumn is also highly beautiful, and must 

 be considered as contributing to the charms of this tree. 

 The colour it assumes is a deep lake-red ; and it is at that 

 season as easily known at a distance by its fine colouring, 

 as the Maple, the Liquidambar, and the Nyssa, of which we 

 have already spoken. Taking into consideration all these 

 ornamental qualities, and also the fact that it is every day 

 becoming scarcer in our native wilds, we think the Dogwood 

 tree should fairly come under the protection of the planter, 

 and well deserves a place in the pleasure-ground and shrub- 

 bery. 



The wood is close-grained, hard, and heavy, and takes a 

 good polish. It is too small to enter into general use, but is 



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