DOGWOOD. BLACK GUM. 63 



but it is now being largely used for the manufacture of crates 

 baskets, veneering, barrels, etc. 



Cornus florida, Linnauis. 

 (dogwood, flowering dogwood, boxwood.) 



A small tree, with flattened spreading top and rough blackish 

 bark, reaching a height of 40 feet and a diameter of 18 inches. 



It is common in rich woods from southern New England west to 

 southern Ontario, and south to Florida and eastern Texas. 



In this State, where it reaches an average height of 12 to 20 

 feet, it occurs throughout. In the coastal plain it forms a lower 

 story under the long-leaf pine. In the Piedmont plateau and 

 mountain region it grows under oaks, hickories and yellow poplar. 



Dogwood generally bears fruit abundantly every year, and 

 young seedlings are common in open woods, .and in mixed coppice 

 woods on moist soil. When once started it bears a deep shade. 

 The acute ovate leaves are opposite and often somewhat clustered 

 toward the ends of the branchlets. The flowers occur in a head 

 surrounded by 4 white bracts, which make the cluster appear like 

 a single large flower, and the bright red oval fruit grows in 

 bunches. The awl-shai)ed leaf-buds, as well as the twigs, are pur- 

 plish and covered with a whitish bloom. The rounded flattened 

 grayish-brown flower-buds replace the terminal buds on the 

 fertile branches. The dogwood has numerous long lateral roots. 



The wood is hard, heavy, strong, close-grained, and tough ; brown 

 in color ; the sapwood lighter. It takes a beautiful polish, and is 

 extensively used for turnery, wood engraving, the bearings of 

 machinery, the hubs of wheels, barrel hoops, shuttles, spindles, 

 etc. The bark yields a tonic. 



Large quantities have been cut in the eastern and central sec- 

 tions of the State, along the railroads, and manufactured into 

 spindle, shuttle, and shoe-last blocks, but the supply lias by no 

 means been exhausted. 



Nyssa sylvatica, Marshall. 

 (black gum. sour gum.) 

 A large tree, with horizontal branches and short spur-like lateral 



