Holly, Yew and Box 



the light until required for use. He also states 

 that in 1815 trees on Box-hill to the cost of 

 ; 1 0,000 were cut down. The earliest specimen 

 of wood engraving in England now extant is 

 said to be in the collection of Earl Spencer, and 

 represents St Christopher carrying the infant 

 Saviour; it dates back to 1423. In addition 

 to Box-trees being found in quantity about the 

 neighbourhood of the Black Sea, they are said 

 to be plentiful in the forests in Franche Compt6, 

 Dauphin6, Haute Provence, and the chain of 

 mountains stretching across Languedoc and the 

 Pyrenees. 



Dryden makes one or two references to the 

 use of Box-wood as follows : 



" The Beech, the swimming Alder and the Plane, 

 Hard Box and Linden of a softer grain." 



And also : 



" Nor Box nor Limes without their use ; 

 Smooth-grain'd and proper for the turner's trade, 

 Which curious hands may carve, and steel with ease 

 invade." Dryderts Virgil. 



Decorative Uses 



In the British Isles the Boxes are planted 

 solely for decorative purposes, and, though they 

 attain their greatest size on rich loamy soil, they 

 thrive well on heavy soil and in that of a poor 

 sandy character. The adaptability of the 



220 



