OF FOREST-TREES. 



277 



and wedges, in which it lasts like the hardest iron ; it will grow with us CH, 

 to good bulk and stature. The preserved and pickled berries (or cherries ^"^^ 

 rather) are most refreshing, an excellent condiment, and do also well in 

 tarts. But it is very odd what Mathiolus affirms upon his own expe- 

 rience, that one who has been bitten of a mad dog, if in a year after he 

 handle the wood of this tree till it grows warm, relapses again into his 

 former distemper, 



The same is reported of the Cornus Fcemina, or Wild Cornel, which, 

 like the former, is noted for compactness, and made use of for cart-timber, 

 and other rustic instruments ; it also makes the best of butchers' 

 skewers, and tooth-pickers. In some countries abroad they decoct the 

 berries, which pressed, yield an oil for the lamp. 



by the beginning of February ; and though there is no great beauty in the flowers, yet, as 

 they are generally produced in plenty, at a season when few other flowers appear upon trees, 

 a few plants may b.e admitted fpr variety. TJie fryit of this trap is seldom ripe before 

 September. The tree will grow to the height of eighteeii or tweiity feet, forming a lar^e 

 head. 



This tree is of the class and order Tetrandria Monogynta. 



The Cornelian Cherry-tree should be raised from seeds. These should be sown 

 in the autumn, soon after they are ripe, or they will not come up till the second spring ; 

 and sometimes, when the intermediate summer has proved very dry, they will not appear 

 till the summer after ; so that great care should be used to get the seeds into the beds as 

 soon as possible ; but if the work qannpt be done before the spring, and the plants do not 

 come up, the beds should be left undisturbed for the two following seasons. 



When the plants have made their appearance, they should stand in the seed-bed a year 

 or two to acquire strength ; during which time they should be kept clean of weeds, and 

 in dry weather watered. After this, they should be planted out in the nursery, in rows, 

 where they may remain, with the usual care, till they are fit to be planted out for good ; 

 the best season for which is the autumn. 



The Cornelian Cherry-tree is a native of Misnia, Austria, and soine other places, but 

 grows very well with us ; and may be planted with success on moist soils. 



Homer ranks the Cornel amongst the trees that afford the coarsest food : 



Meantime the Goddess in disdain bestows 

 The Mast and Acorn, brutal food ! and strows 



The fruit of Cornel, as they feast around. opyssEY. 



The wood of this tree was used by the ancients for javelins — " volat Itala Cornus." 



