CHAP. XCIX. 



EUPHORBIJ CE.li, Z?U'XUS. 



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122} 



statistics. The largest box trees in the neighbourhood of London are at Syon, where there arc 

 various trees from l.'31t. to 16 ft. in height. There is also one at Kew, 15 ft. high. In the Oxford 

 Uotanic Garden, there are two old box trees, one of which, in ISSJ, was 21 ft. high, the diameter of 

 the trunk 7^ in., and of the head 18 ft. The largest box hedge in England is at Pctworth, where 

 it is more than 12 ft. broad at the bottom, 15 ft. high, and 40 yards long : it is supposed to be upwards 

 of two centuries old. The oldest sculpturesque topiary works in England are in the garden at Leven's 

 Grove, in Westmoreland, laid out in the time of James II. In Scotland, at West, Plean, near 

 Stirling, there is a box tree, 10 years planted, that is 6 ft. high. In France, in the Jardin des Plantes, 

 a box tree, upwards of 100 years planted, has attained the height of 30 ft. 



Commercial Statistics, Plants of the tree box, in the London nurseries, aro 

 from 6r/. to \s. Qd. each, according to the size of the variety: at Bollwyller 

 plants of the species are 50 cents each ; and of the varieties, from 1 franc to 

 li francs each : at New York, plants, or the tree kind are 25 cents each; and 

 of its varieties, 37^ cents. The dwarf box is sold, in English nurseries, at (id. 

 per yard ; at New York, at 50 cents per yard. 



1 2. B. balea'rica Willd. The Balearic Box. 



Identification. Willd. Arh., 50., Sp. PI. 4., p. 337. ; ?Lam. Encyc, 1. p. 505. 

 Synuni/mes. B. s. var. gigantca N. Du Ham., 1. p. 82. ; Minorca Box; 

 Buis de Minorque, Buis de Mahon, Fr. ; Balearischer Buchshaum, Ger. 

 Engravinj^s. N. Du Ham., pi. 23. f. 1 ; and our figs. 1220. and 1221. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Disk of leaf oblong ; footstalk glabrous. 

 Anthers arrow-shaped, linear. {Willd. Sp PL, iv. p. 

 338.) A native of Minorca, Sardinia, and Corsica; 

 and growing there, according to the Nonveau Du Ha- 

 mel, to the height of 80 ft. It is also found in great 

 abundance on all the rocky surfaces both of European 

 and Asiatic Turkey. It was first brought to France 

 about 1770; whence it was introduced into England 

 in 1780. In both countries, it was at first treated as a 

 green-house plant ; but it was afterwards found quite 

 hardy. In Paris, according to the Kotiveau Du Hamel, 

 it was found to resist the severe frosts of 179-i and 

 1799. The Balearic box is a very handsome species, with leaves tlirce 

 times as large as those of B. sempervu'ens, and a straight smooth trunk. 

 The leaves, when the plant is fully exposed 

 to the air, are of a much paler green than 

 those of the common box ; but, when they 

 are in the shade, they ai'e of an intensely • 

 deep green. The wood is said to be of a 

 brighter yellow than that of the common 

 box. It is sent to England in large quantities 

 from Constantinople, for the useof the wood- 

 engravers ; but, being of a coarser grain, it 

 is inferior to that of the B. sempervirens. It is propagated by cuttings, 

 which, if placed in sandy soil under glass, or in heat, generally strike 

 root in about two months after being taken off. Cuttings will also succeed, 

 if treated like those of the common box. 



Statistics. The largest plant within 10 miles of London is at Kew, where it is 1.3 ft. high. At 

 Walton on Thames, at Lady Tankerville's, it is 10 ft. high. In Sussex, at Arundel Castle, itis 17 ft. 

 bigh. Price of plants, in the London nurseries, Is. 6rf. each ; at New York, where it requires protec- 

 lion during winter, 37J cents. 



App. i. Half-Iiardy Species ofWixus. 



B. chinensis Lk. is a native of China, introduced in 1802, and growing about 3 ft. high ; and 

 B. austridis Cun. is a native of New Holland, growing about 6 ft. high. Both require protection 

 during winter, but would probably succeed against a conservative wall. 



A true species of .Biixus, Mr. Royle observes, is common in the Himalayas, found chiefly in valley.*, 

 as at Mugra, Kamaon, &c. It grows to a considerable size and thickness, and the wood appears as 

 compact and good as that of the common box. 



App. I. Half-hardy Species belonging to the Order Y^tiphorhikceic. 



On looking over the genera belonging to this order in the Horttts Britannicus, several ligneous 

 species will be observed indicated as requiring the green-house ; but, as very few of them are of 

 much beauty, we consider it unnecessary to go into many details respecting them. 



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