CORNEL TREE. 



107 



berries on (thanks to their bitterness !) all the winter. 

 There are several other American species, among which, 

 the handsomest is the Blue-berried, Cornus sericea, 

 which was cultivated by Mr. Miller, in 1759. The 

 shoots are of a fine red colour in the winter ; and in sum- 

 mer, the large leaves, white on the under side, and the 

 bunches of white flowers which terminate every branch, 

 are very handsome. In the autumn, it is adorned with 

 bunches of ripe blue berries. 



There is a sm.all species, commonly called the Herba- 

 ceous Dogwood, Cornus Suecica, by some the Dwarf 

 Honeysuckle, v/hich is a very elegant plant, not more 

 than six inches high ; the berries are eatable, and have 

 a sweet watery taste, very agreeable to children. The 

 Highlanders suppose them to create an appetite, whence 

 the Erse name of Lus-a-chrasis, Plant of Gluttony. 



It is common by the sides of rivulets in the Highlands 

 of Scotland, in the north of England, and many of the 

 northern parts of Europe, but is very difficult to pre- 

 serve in gardens. 



Cornel wood was formerly used for javehns : 



" Bona bello 



Cornus " Georg. ii. 



Says Virgil — " Cornel, good in war.'^ 



" Three henchmen were for every knight assigned_, 

 All in rich livery clad, and of a kind ; 

 White velvet, but unshorn, for cloaks they wore. 

 And each within his hand a truncheon bore ; 

 The foremost held a helm of rare device, 

 A prince's ransom would not pay the price ; 

 The second bore the buckler of his knight ; 

 The third of cornel wood, a spear upright. 

 Headed with piercing steel, and polished bright." 



Dkyden's Floiver and Leaf. 



