Cornus — Cornel — Dogwood. 283 



looks almost like a sheet of fire, when seen at a little dis- 

 tance. In summer the stems throw out large, roundish 

 leaves, somewhat rough on both sides, and terminating in 

 a short, sharp point. This species appears to be also in- 

 digenous to Europe and Asia, growing as far north as 

 Siberia, and, as might be expected, is entirely hardy. It 

 is there known as Cornus alba, with reference to its fruit, 

 which is a small berry, bluish white and very bitter. 



C. sanguinea, another red-stemmed cornus, is a species 

 of foreign nativity, though now well known and common 

 in American gardens. The height is from six to eight 

 feet, with numerous shoots proceeding from a more or less 

 prostrate root, which is in reality the stem partially cov- 

 ered by the soil and an accumulation of leaves. The 

 greenish-white flowers appear late in spring, but are not 

 especially attractive or interesting. The foliage is good, 

 making it a valuable shrub for summer, though its chief 

 attractiveness is in winter when its red branches render it 

 conspicuous. The fruit is a small black berry, which, when 

 compressed, yields a valuable oil that in some countries 

 is used in the manufacture of fancy soaps and other 

 articles requiring oleaginous substances. The species 

 is very abundant in western Asia and some portions of 

 Europe. 



C. spathi is a variety in many respects decidedly supe- 

 rior to the type, and one of the very best variegated plants. 

 The leaves in spring are dark, almost bronze, and very 

 attractive ; but the greatest charm is put on in mid- 

 summer, when they are broadly and irregularly margined 

 with yellow and white, which is retained the remainder 



