( 54 ) 



fticks*. In Italy a very noble collection of them 

 form the avenue to the convent of Grotta-Fer- 

 rata, near Frafcati, which is faid to occupy 

 the exact fite of Tully's Tufculan villa, about 

 twelve miles from Rome, on the Alban hill. 

 The tree at the end of the avenue, fartheft from 

 the convent, and clofe to a plentiful fpring, ex- 

 ceeds the reft in lize, and beauty. This con- 

 vent is often vifited for the fake of a picture by 

 Dominichino. 



The oriental plane I believe fheds it's bark 

 like the occidental ; and the catkins of both are 

 round, fpicated balls, about the fize of wal- 

 nuts 'j and fattened together often in pairs, 

 like chain-mot. From this circumftance, the 

 occidental plane is called in America, the 

 button- tree. It flourifhes there commonly by 

 the fides of creeks, and rivers, and is of quick 

 growth. The oriental plane, I believe, loves 

 the fame foil : at lead both trees in England 

 are fond of moift ground. 



Kempfer tells us-)-, that at Jedo the capital 

 of Japan, he found a fpecies of this tree, 

 the leaves of which were beautifully variegated, 



* Letter 4;. } See p. 524. 



like 



