200 



THE DOGWOOD. 



very conspicuous. In early spring it bears at the 

 extremities of the twigs numerous white flowers, 

 which consist of four spreading petals, and these 

 are succeeded by small berries, which in August 

 and September become dark purple or almost 

 black. Towards the end of September, the leaves 

 turn bright red, and finally deep purple. The leaves 

 and young shoots are remarkable for the number 

 and strength of their spiral vessels. So tenacious 

 are these, that if a tender twig or leaf (in any 

 stage of growth) be snapped asunder in several 

 places, the spiral vessels may be discovered by the 

 naked eye, holding the pieces so firmly together 

 that if one fragment be lifted up, all the others 

 will remain suspended. 



The fruit of the Dogwood is bitter and styp- 

 tic, and yields an inferior kind of oil. The wood 

 has long been used for the manufacture of small 

 instruments, in which compactness of substance 

 is required, such as arrows, ram-rods, &c., and 

 it is still much sought after as a material for 

 skewers. 



Another species, Cornus alba, the white-fruited 

 Dogwood, is common in shrubberies ; it resembles 

 the last in habit, but its branches are longer and 

 of a yet brighter red. It is a native of Siberia, 

 and North America. 



The Cornus, Cornel, or Cornelian Cherry of 

 the ancients is another species, the Cornus mas of 

 botanists. It grows wild in all the southern 

 countries of Europe, except Great Britain, and 

 may be distinguished from the preceding by its 

 yellow fiowers, ash-coloured twigs and scarlet 

 berries, which are as large as acorns, but worthless 

 as fruit. Mention of it occurs in several of the 



