Cornus — Cornel — Dogwood. 277 



garden varieties are among the most valuable shrubs and 

 small trees in use. It is in their favor that they will do 

 better in the shade and when exposed to the drip of over- 

 hanging trees than do most other shrubs. For this reason, 

 if for no other, they fill an important place, and, being 

 compact and bushy, they quickly supply vacancies and 

 cover the naked stems of trees or other objects which are 

 desired to be hidden from the eye. All the woody species 

 can be used in this way to especial advantage. In some 

 parts of Europe, especially in Italy, they have been planted 

 for hedges, and with satisfactory results. They are nearly 

 all remarkably hardy, adapting themselves readily to great 

 diversities of soil and climate. All are deciduous, and 

 mostly with leaves opposite, entire, and of good substance. 

 Some of them produce flowers of great beauty, and in 

 abundance. In most cases the bark is bitter and astrin- 

 gent, as are also the berries, which ripen in autumn. The 

 wood is close-grained, and much prized for purposes 

 requiring strength and endurance. 



C. florida, flowering dogwood, is one of the most 

 desirable of our native shrubs. It usually grows from ten 

 to twelve feet high, but occasionally, under favorable 

 circumstances, shoots up to twenty or thirty. In either 

 case it assumes fair proportions, and in its season of 

 blossoming, which is early spring, commands universal 

 admiration. The leaves are four or five inches long, and 

 two to three wide, ovate, sharp-pointed, and somewhat 

 pubescent or hairy, especially along the mid-rib and more 

 prominent veins. The flowers appear at the end of the 

 branches, twelve or more in a head, and are supported by 



