NATIVE WILD FLOWERS 
The flowers are succeeded by small round berries, which 
become brilliantly scarlet by the end of the summer, appear- 
ing like a bright red coral ring surrounded by the whorl of 
dark green somewhat pointed veiny leaves. 
From its love of shady damp soil this little plant cui 
grow under cultivation if suitable localities were selected 
in shrubberies, among evergreens, and in rock-work not 
much exposed to the sun. This low Cornel is very orna- 
mental both in flower and fruit. The berries are sweet but 
insipid. The Indian women and children eat them and 
say, “Good to eat for Indian.” The taste of the Indian is 
so simple and uncultivated that he will eat any fruit or 
vegetable that is innocuous, apparently indifferent to its 
flavor. 
The poor squaw gathers her handful of berries and goes 
her way contented with her forest fare, from which the 
more luxurious children of civilization would turn away 
with contempt, or admire their beauty, possibly, and then 
cast them away as worthless. Few indeed think of the 
lessons that may be learned even from the humblest forest 
flower, speaking to their hearts of the loving care of the 
great Creator, who provideth alike for all His creatures. 
He openeth His hand and filleth all things living with 
plenteousness. 
There are, among other species of the Dogwood family 
that might be enumerated as indigenous to this western 
part of Canada, some with blue berries, some with white, 
some with red, and others with dark steel-colored fruit. The 
dwarf Cornel (C. Canadensis) is the smallest species; the 
rough, bushy round-leaved C. circinata the second; C. florida 
the largest: all are tonics, and bitter; some are used in 
medicine, others in dyeing, by the natives. The berries of 
several species are largely sought for as food by the wild 
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