27 



THE BOX IN BRITAIN.- 



In conversation last year with Graf zu Solms-Laubach he made 

 the extremely interesting suggestion that the Box and Yew trees of 

 Box Hill might probably be the remains of a native forest which 

 originally clothed the North Downs. Among his arguments against 

 their being the remains of a plantation, he urged the great un- 

 likelihood of such a soil as that of Box Hill being planted at all, 

 and the still greater improbability of any one hitting upon such a 

 combination as Box and Yew for the purpose. He urged that, 

 since it is probably the only thing of its kind iu the world, careful 

 enquiry should be made into its history. 



I have been able to make a few superficial enquiries to the 

 following effect, and it will be seen that the subject is worth 

 pursuing by some one with leisure and other advantages, which I do 

 not possess. Mr. Warner, of the Manuscripts Department, has been 

 good enough to search Domesday Book for me, but without result. 

 He makes the suggestion that the old Court Rolls of Dorking be 

 searched — if they can be found. He further sent me the following 

 extract from Manning and Bray's History of Surrey, vol. i. p. 560 

 (1804) :— 



" The Downs, which rise to a considerable height from the 

 opposite bank of the Mole, are finely chequered with Yew and Box 

 Trees of great antiquity, and which form a scene no less venerable 

 than pleasing. Of the latter of these, in particular, there was 

 formerly such abundance, that that part of the Downs which is 

 contiguous to the stream, and within the precinct of this Maner, 

 hath always been known by the name of Box Hill, from which 

 also is an extensive prospect into the neighbouring counties. 

 Various have been the disquisitions concerning the antiquity of 

 this plantation ; which, however, for aught that has hitherto ap- 

 peared to the contrary, may liave been coeval with the soil. Here 

 was formerly also a Warren with its Lodge ; in a lease of which from 

 Sir Matthew Brown to Thomas Constable, dated 25 August 1602, the 

 Tenent covenants to use his best endeavours for preserving the Yew, 

 Box, and all other trees growing thereupon ; as also to deliver, half- 

 yearly, an account of what hath been sold, to whom and at what 

 prices : and in an account rendered to Ambrose his son by his 

 Guardian, of the rents and profits for one year to Michaelmas 

 1608, the receipt for Box Trees cut down upon the Sheep Walk on 

 the Hill, is 50 /. I have seen also an account of the Maner, taken 

 in 1712, in which it is supposed that as much had been cut down 

 within a few years before as amounted to 3,000 Z." 



I forwarded this extract to Graf zu Solms-Laubach, who replied 

 in an interesting letter, of which the following is a translation : — 



*' Many thanks for your information, which I have received with 

 the greatest interest. It is really sufficient in itself to clear up the 



* Becorders of coincidences may like to note that the two following com- 

 munications, written independently of each other, reached us in the same week. 

 — Ed. Jodbn. Bot. 



