160 



VEGETABi:.E SUBSTANCES. 



Burus sempervirens. 



It is a native of all the middle and southern parts 

 of Europe ; and it is found in greater abundance and 

 of a larger size in the countries on the west of Asia, 

 to the south of the mountains of Caucasus. In 

 many parts of Fi'ance it is also plentiful, though 

 generally in the character of a shrub. In early 

 times it flourished upon many of the barren hills of 

 England. Evelyn found it upon some of the higher 

 liills in Surrey, displaying its myrtle-shaped leaves 

 and its bright green in the depth of winter ; and, 

 till very recently, it o;ave to Boxhill, in that county, the 

 charms of a delightful and perennial verdure. The 

 trees have now been destroyed, and the name, as 

 at other places called after the box, has become the 

 monument of its former beauty. 



Yet no tree so well merits cultivation — though 

 its growth be slow. It is an unique among tim- 

 ber, and combines qualities which are not found 

 existing together in any other. It is as close and 

 heaN'y as ebony ; not very much softer than lignum- 

 vitce ; it cuts better than any other wood ; and when 

 an edge is made of the ends of the fibres, it stands 

 better than lead or tin, nay almost as well as brass. 

 Like holly, the bos is very retentive of its sap, and 



