54 THE WOODLANDS. 



The neighbourhood of Dorking is still beautified by 

 extensive shrubberies of box. In many parts of Asia 

 the box, which is a slow-growing tree, attains a con- 

 siderable size, and, as yet, its wood has been un- 

 equalled for wood-engraving, for which purpose it is 

 very extensively employed. Virgil says, 



" Nor box, nor limes, without their use are made, 

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

 Which curious hands may carve, and steel with ease invade. '* 



The BiRD-CHERRY 1 is not uncommon in the 

 Scottish woods, although by no means common in 

 England. Gerarde says that in 1596 it grew wild in 

 the woods of Kent, where it was used as a stock to 

 graft cherries on. It is still to be met with scattered 

 over the Kentish woods. This is a native of most 

 parts of Europe, and is plentiful in Northern Russia. 

 Birds are very fond of its berries, hence its name of 

 Bird-cherry, and its Latin name of padus was pro- 

 bably applied by the Romans after the river Padus, 

 the ancient name of the Po. 



The SERVICE 2 is sometimes found in woods ; but 

 this is not the true service-tree, which is very rare in 

 Britain. The wild service is still to be seen in the 

 woods on the north side of London, where it was 

 noted as growing more than a century ago. 



The WHITE BEAN-TREE S is more common than 

 the wild service, with its large ovate, doubly-toothed 

 leaves, white and woolly on the under surface. It 

 seems to prefer a chalky or limestone soil, but is 



* Pyr-us aria. 3 Fyrus torminalis. 



2 Prunus padus. 



