17'2 REMARKS ON THE CYPRESS. 



abound; and we are assured, that the aromatic smell of this ever- 

 green was found to be a specific for the lungs. 



It is clearly ascertained, that trees correct a putrid bad air. It 

 should, therefore, be our study to find out those that do it most 

 powerfully ; and having ourselves so often. been revived and re- 

 freshed by the natural perfumes of the garden and fields, we deem 

 it worthy the labours of medical students, to learn how far aro- 

 matic and balsamic scents may be good for those who are troubled 

 with weak lungs. 



By whom the cypress tree was first introduced to England, and 

 at what exact period, we are not able to learn ; but it is probable, 

 that we are indebted for this celebrated tree to some pious abbess 

 or holy fathers of Sion Monastery, near Brentford, which is now 

 become Northumberland's ducal palace ; as Dr. Turner tells, us, 

 in his Herbal of 1568, " it groweth right plenteously in the gardine 

 of Sion." Gerard notices, in 1597, " that it groweth likewise in 

 diuers places of Englande, where it hath beene planted, as at Sion, 

 a place near London, sometime a house ofnunnes; it groweth 

 also at Greenwich, and at other places ; and .likewise at Hamp- 

 steed, in the garden of Master Waide, one of the clarkes of hir 

 maiesties privy-counsell." 



Evelyn says, in 1664, " the cypress tree was, but within a few 

 years past, reputed so tender and nice a plant, that it was culti- 

 vated with the greatest care, and to be found only amongst the 

 curious.;" whereas we see it now in every garden, rising to as 

 goodly a bulk and stature as most which you shall find even in 

 Italy itself. For such I remember to have once seen in his late 

 Majesty's gardens at Theobalds, before that princely seat was 

 demolished. The author of the Sylva strongly recommends the 

 planting of this tree in England ; and of its hardiness he says, " the 

 March and April winds (in years 1663 and 1665), accompanied 

 with cruel frosts and cold blasts, for the space of more than 

 two months, night and day, did not, amongst near a thousand 

 cypresses growing in my garden, kill above three or four, which, 

 for being very late cut to the quick, (that is, the latter end of 

 October), were raw of their wounds, took cold, and gangreened." 

 From this and other recommendations of Evelyn, we presume it 

 became fashionable to cultivate the cypress, for in 1706, when Lou- 

 don and Wise published " The Retired Gardener," they say, 

 " cypress was formerly more in fashion than 'tis now ; for we see 

 in some places whole alleys of it ; but these trees being apt to take 



