USES OP WOOD. 203 



suggesting the appellative designation indicative 

 of hardness. The common name is supposed to 

 have been suggested because the fruit is not even 

 ' fit for a dog.' The common name of Prick- 

 wood, an alternative of Dogwood, is much more 

 appropriately indicative of the actual use to which 

 the wood is put, because it is frequently made 

 into skewers and toothpicks — more frequently into 

 the former, as the feathered tribe (when the 

 precious metals are not brought into requisition) 

 furnish perhaps the largest number of toothpicks. 

 The large numbers of spiral vessels in the woody 

 tissue of this ^hrub, and sometimes tree, doubtless 

 are largely the cause of its peculiar toughness. 

 For other purposes than those mentioned, whei-e 

 especial toughness, combined with solidity of fibre, 

 is requisite — small, pointed instruments required 

 in the arts and manufactures, arrows, ramrods, 

 knitting and netting needles, and meshes, &c., this 

 wood is used and is useful. Another species of 

 Dogwood {Gornus mas), the Cornel or ' Male 

 Dogwood ' (our typical species mentioned above 

 ^sanguinea — is sometimes called in opposition 

 Gornus fcemina, the ' Lady Dogwood'), has much 



