THE BOX 127 



Beuz, the Calmuck Boschton, and the Georgian Bsa; 

 so that the Box may have been carried westward with 

 the earliest migrations of the Indo-European races, 

 or have been found indigenous by them and given 

 a name previously used by their common ancestors. 



On the other hand, the Box does not occur in the 

 Channel Islands or in Ireland, whilst in Holland, 

 Belgium, and the North of France it grows mainly in 

 hedgerows and in the immediate neighbourhood of cul- 

 tivation. Its introduction at a date which is at least 

 remote would seem to be indicated by the fact that a 

 sprig of Box forms the badge of the clan MTntosh and 

 one of its variegated form that of the M'Phersons. 



The Romans employed the Box both when grow- 

 ing for " topiary " work, and as timber. Both Pliny 

 and Vitruvius allude to the clipping of the shrub 

 into hedges ornamented with the figures of animals, 

 whilst Virgil and Ovid refer also to the use of 

 its wood for musical instruments, employing the 

 word Buxus as meaning a flute. It may, therefore, 

 well be to the Romans that we owe the introduction 

 of the tree into England. Sprigs of Box have, 

 indeed, been found among the Roman remains at 

 Silchester. 



The wood is remarkably heavy, being the only 

 European timber that will sink in water ; it is yellow, 

 very hard, compact, and even-grained, so as to be sus- 

 ceptible of a tine polish, neither annual rings, pith- 

 rays, nor vessels being easily seen in it. It is, as 

 Dryden describes it, translating Virgil 



" Smooth-grained, and proper for the turner's tracle, 

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



