186 SYLVA FLORIFEBA. 



describes this tree in the 40th chapter of his 

 16th book ; and says, he cannot rank it 

 amongst timber trees, as it does not arrive at 

 any great size ; but that the wood of this tree 

 was nearly equal to iron for making pins and 

 wedges to cleave wood. It was also used by the 

 Romans, for making spokes to their wheels. 



The growth of the cornel tree, mascula, is 

 so slow, that it requires fifteen years to 

 attain ten feet in height ; from hence, its 

 wood is very hard. In the south of France 

 it is often used for props in the vineyards, 

 and also to make hoops for wine casks. The 

 finest trees of this kind which we have seen 

 in England, are at Cowfold, in Sussex, on an 

 estate belonging to John Wood, Esq. of 

 Chestham. One of these trees is in the garden 

 belonging to a farm called Walhurst, in the 

 occupation of Mrs. Dowlan ; the other is in 

 a garden of a neighbouring farm occupied by 

 Mr. West. These trees are the size of a 

 moderate cherry or apple tree ; and we con- 

 clude they are of a considerable age, as their 

 appearance has not altered much since we 

 have known them, which is upwards of thirty 

 years. They are abundant and regular bearers. 



The flowers appear before the leaves, and 

 sometimes as early as the beginning of 

 February. They grow on umbels, of from 



