B. sempervirens 



" Common Box " for poor soils seems to have 

 been known to Pope, for he writes : 



" Waste sandy valleys once perplex' d with Thorn, 

 The spiny Fir and shapely Box adorn." 



For groups in the wilder parts of the garden 

 the tall growing forms are well fitted, whilst 

 varieties with pendulous branches form handsome 

 lawn specimens. The dwarfer varieties are of 

 value for beds or groups in shrubberies, whilst 

 the same may be said of the varieties with varie- 

 gated leaves. For planting beneath the shade 

 of trees and in dark corners they are excellent, 

 whilst for a position facing north, where no sun- 

 shine is obtainable, few plants thrive better. A 

 dwarf form known as suffruticosa is used ex- 

 tensively for planting as an edging to paths, and 

 no shrub is neater if kept well clipped. When 

 the severe style of geometrical gardening existed, 

 this Box was of great service for marking out the 

 beds. 



In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when 

 topiary work was so much in vogue, the compact 

 growing varieties were eagerly sought after for clip- 

 ping into fantastic shapes, their small leaves and 

 dense habit peculiarly fitting them for the purpose. 

 Even in the present day a few people try to 

 revive topiary work, and varieties of Box are 

 largely used for the purpose. Pliny is said to 

 have described his Tusculan villa as having " a 



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