The Box 



thereupon, as also to deliver half-yearly an 

 account of what hath been sold, to whom, and 

 at what prices." In 1608 a number of trees were 

 cut down upon the sheep walks on Box Hill, and 

 the wood realised ^50. The tree grows to a 

 height of 1 5 or 20 feet, with a trunk diameter of 

 6 or 8 inches under ordinary conditions, but, in 

 very favourable situations, these dimensions are 

 exceeded. As a rule, a spreading head is 

 formed, and the branches are thickly covered 

 with small, oblong, or oval leaves. Like the 

 Holly and Yew it thrives in a variety of soils 

 and situations, and forms an excellent subject for 

 undergrowth, as it succeeds in partial shade as 

 well as in full sun. Although under normal con- 

 ditions it attains the dimensions of a small tree, 

 varieties are in cultivation which never grow 

 more than a few feet in height, whilst one or two 

 varieties hardly attain a height of 12 inches. 

 Other varieties are recognised by means of 

 variegated foliage. 



Associations 



As a hardy evergreen the Box has long occu- 

 pied an important position in gardens, and in 

 point of usefulness it closely approaches the Holly 

 and the Yew. These three plants have in fact 

 been associated for a very long period, and we 

 find that in a cut state they have all been used 



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