THE LIME. 29 



attractive to the bees, which gather much 

 honey from them. An infufion of them 

 is faicl to make a pleafant tea. The fap of 

 the tree contains fugar. Lime wood is 

 foft and light, and therefore only fit for 

 ufes requiring little ftrength. Jt is ufed 

 by fhoemakers and leather-cutters to cut 

 leather upon, as not being liable to turn 

 the edge of their knives. The clofenefs of 

 its grain, joined with foftnefs, and the pro- 

 perty of not being readily attacked by the 

 worm, has caufed it to be chofen by carvers 

 for the rich ornamental work with which 

 churches and palaces were formerly de- 

 corated, Mr. Evelyn mentions it as the 

 material employed by the celebrated artift 

 Gibbon for his beautiful feftoons and other 

 fculptures. It makes good charcoal for 

 defigners. Its inner bark, foaked in 

 water, yields a fibrous matter fit for ropes 

 and fifhing-nets. The Ruffia mats, and 

 the bark fhoes of the peafants, are made of 

 this material. 



THE 



