202 SYLVAN WINTER. 



sign of decay — a marvellous proof of their won- 

 derful quality. Like Cedar, the odour of the wood, 

 though pleasant to man's taste, is objectionable to 

 insects, and, hence, for clothes-presses it would be 

 an invaluable material. It also, it is said, resists 

 the attacks of worms, probably for a similar reason 

 to that which causes insects to dislike it, and 

 makes admirable material for any purpose which 

 requires it to be buried in the earth. Proof of 

 this is furnished by the fact that the cases con- 

 taining the mummies of the Egyptians are com- 

 monly found to be made of Cypress. It was, 

 perhaps, its utility in this way that suggested its 

 employment as a funeral tree in burying-places — 

 for even to this day the custom of employing it as 

 an evergreen to plant over graves lingers. Itself 

 and many of its varieties are indeed very beautiful 

 trees, and their persistent verdure makes them 

 very suitable for use as living memorials of the 

 dead. 



Toughness of wood is the quality which has 

 caused its generic botanical name to be given to 

 the genera of which the Dogwood (Gornus san- 

 guinea) is the best-known species — cornu, a horn, 



