106 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



call it Cornouilier Sauvage, or Sanguin; the Italians, 

 Sanguine, or Sanguinello. 



This Cornel is about the same height as the former 

 species, when that grows wild : the blossoms are of a 

 greenish white colour ; the fruit dark purple. 



The fruit of this tree is very similar to the buckthorn^ 

 berries sold in the markets, and has been sometimes pur- 

 chased in mistake. It may be easily distinguished by 

 opening one of the berries ; that of the Cornel containing 

 but one stone, the buckthorn-berry four. The latter, 

 too, gives a green stain to paper, and the juice of the 

 dogberry stains purple. 



The wood, like that of the male Cornel, is noted for 

 compactness, and is used for various rustic instruments. 

 Cornel wood is considered the best for butchers' skewers. 

 In some countries, an oil for lamps is obtained from the 

 berries, by boihng them in water and pressing them. 



The Cornus llorida, or Great-flowered Dogwood, seldom 

 exceeds eight feet in height. It does not produce fruit 

 in this country, and blossoms but sparely ; it is never- 

 theless very hardy, and well-clothed with large leaves. 



There is a variety with rose-coloured blossoms, which 

 was found in Virginia, of which it is said, that when the 

 blossom first breaks forth, which is early in March, it is 

 not so wide as a sixpence, but that it gradually increases 

 to the size of a man's hand; being six weeks in coming 

 to its full size. The berries are bright red, the size of 

 large haws, and grow four or five together in a cluster : 

 they are very bitter, and birds will not eat them but in 

 times of dearth. The wood is white, close and hard 

 like that of box. 



This Cornel is a great ornament to die woods in Ame- 

 rica, flowering very early in the spring, and keeping the 



