194 



TREES GROWING IN RICH SOIL. 



beauty of the dogwood when its bloom whitens the woods and 

 banks in early spring. The snowy involucre of the flowers un- 

 folds before the leaves are fully developed and can therefore 





O^iS^t 



be seen from a great distance waving 

 its cheery message. Spring has re- 

 turned, it proclaims, and this is a story 

 that never grows old. The foliage of 

 this tree also contributes much to the 

 brilliancy of the autumn colouring. 

 Then little birds are seen capering in 

 and out among its gay leaves and 

 alighting on twigs that bend low with 

 the weight of their round, plump bodies. 

 They greedily eat the fruit and are 

 good agents in distributing its seeds. 



In the south, Cornus florida attains more ample dimensions 

 than it does northward, where it frequently occurs as a shrub. 

 Country people watch the tree with especial interest, for it is 

 credited with coming into leaf at just the right time for plant- 

 ing Indian corn. The bitter bark of its roots contains a powerful 

 substance similar to quinine, and it is used as a tonic. The 

 wood is closely grained and strong, with a beautiful surface 

 like satin. 



Cdrnus Jlorida . 



ALTERNATE-LEAVED DOGWOOD. CORNEL. {Plate CI/.) 



Cdrnus alternifblia. 



FAMILY SHAPE HEIGHT RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Dogwood. Flitt-tof>/ied^ \o-->,<-> feet. Neiu Brunswick westward and May, June, 

 husky. soutk^uard along tke Alleghanies. Fruit: Oct. 



Bark: reddish brown; smooth, or broken irregularly in narrow ridges. 

 Branches: yellowish green; smooth, and streaked with white or light brown. 

 Leaves : simple ; alternate ; slender petioled, and crowded near the ends of the 

 branches; elliptical; entire; yellowish green and glabrous above; paler and 

 slightly pubescent underneath between the curved ribs. Flowers: small; cream 

 coloured; growing in flat, open cymes, and having no involucre. Calyx: with 

 four, minutely-toothed sepals. Corolla : of four white, lanceolate petals. Sta- 

 mens : four. Pistil: one. Frtiit : many dark blue berries, growing on reddish 

 petioles. 



There is a freshness and vigour about the leaves of this dog- 



