- £6 HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF TREES. PART I. 
his son, by his guardian, of the rents and profits for one year, to 
Michaelmas, 1608, the receipt of box trees cut down upon the 
sheepwalk on this hill is 50/.. We have seen also an account of 
this manor, takén in 1712, in which it is supposed that as much 
had been cut down within a few years before as amounted to 
30001.” (Manning and Bray’s Surrey, i. 560.) At present the 
only habitat of this tree in England is Box Hill; and though this 
circumstance cannot be considered as a proof that it is not indi- 
genous, yet, as it is known that it does not ripen its seeds freely 
in this country, and seldom sows itself, either on Box Hill or any- 
where else, when in a neglected state, we may fairly be allowed, 
when these circumstances are taken into consideration and con- 
joined with its Roman name, to doubt whether it be a native. It 
is so beautiful a tree, that its branches, like those of the bay, were 
probably in early use both in civic festivals and religious cere- 
monies; and it appears likely that it was not only introduced, 
but was cultivated, at an early period. At the same time, it must 
not be forgotten, that, in estimating the probability of a tree or 
plant being indigenous to a country, we must add to the other 
considerations mentioned that of its native habitat. Now the 
native site of the box is in woods of deciduous trees, where it 
is well known a plant may propagate itself by seeds, which would 
not do so on naked exposed situations. ‘Taking this view of the 
subject, the box may yet be a native. 
The English elm (U/lmus campéstris) seldom ripens its seeds in 
England, though it does so freely in the neighbourhood of Paris. 
It can hardly be considered a native. ‘The common sycamore 
ripens its seeds kindly, and in woods it sows itself, and the seeds 
spring up freely; but this may be said of various trees and 
shrubs which we know are foreign to the soil. ‘The white poplar 
is found so seldom that it can hardly be considered a native. 
The yew is found in inaccessible acclivities, and other places 
where it must have been sown by birds, which is also the case 
with the spindle tree and the privet; therefore, their being 
natives cannot reasonably be doubted, except on something like 
positive evidence. 
The trees and shrubs which were known to our Saxon an- 
cestors were, the birch, alder, oak, wild or Scotch pine, moun- 
tain ash or rowan tree, juniper, elder, sweet gale, dog rose, 
heath, St. John’s wort, and the mistletoe. All these are con- 
sidered as aboriginal in the country; but, from the length of — 
time that England was under the government of the Romans, 
it may reasonably be supposed that, in addition to the native 
trees and shrubs, there were in the country, when it was taken 
possession of by the Saxons, several which were natives of France, 
Spain, or Italy. To what extent this was the case cannot now 
be known ; but it is sufficient for our purpose, that, in the present 
