DECIDUOUS TREES. 
433 
The White-flowering Dogwood, Cornus florida. Fig. 141 
is a portrait of a remarkably fine specimen, on the grounds of 
E. B. Gardett, Esq., of Germantown, Pa. It is about sixteen feet 
in height, thirty feet across the longest spread of its branches, and 
ten inches in diameter of trunk. In the woods it often reaches the 
height of twenty to thirty feet, and is generally found wild on or 
near the banks of streams. It is remarkable for the size and 
showiness of its white blossoms, which make their appearance in 
April, before the leaves, and cover the tree like immense snow¬ 
flakes. They are from two to three inches in diameter. The 
leaves are in opposite pairs, and vary in color on different trees 
and localities from a light grayish-green to dark-green, those which 
are light-colored being rougher in surface ; glossiness being usually 
associated with the darker color. The prevailing tone, however, is 
a light green early in the season, becoming somewhat darker and 
more glossy at the close. The tree is too common to be fully ap¬ 
preciated. Those who have been familiar with it only in the woods, 
can form but a poor idea of its beauty when grown in rich deep 
soils and open exposures. In such places it assumes an umbrella 
form, and is not only superb in its April crown of white blossoms, 
and its massy head of summer leaves, but in autumn, its foliage 
turning to a deep red, makes the tree a brilliant companion of the 
varied-hued maples, the golden sassafras, the scarlet oak, and the 
glowing bronze of the liquidamber. Besides being of an umbrella 
form in outline, this dogwood is peculiar in the sharp stratification 
of the lights and shadows of its foliage. The fruit is scarlet, but 
quite small. 
We advise planters who intend to give this tree an open place 
on the lawn, to obtain their trees of small size from a good nursery 
instead of taking trees from the woods, as the latter rarely grow 
well, or become so well-formed trees. To develop the great beauty 
of the dogwood it is absolutely necessary that the soil be well 
drained, deep, cool, and rich. 
Nurserymen in obtaining seed of this variety to propagate, 
should endeavor to take it only from those trees which are observa¬ 
ble for the purity and abundance of their summer foliage, and its 
brilliancy in autumn. It is a tendency of most gay autumn-tinted 
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