294 S Y L V A BOOK n 



1 Arbutean harrows, and the mystick van. 



2. Buxus, the box, which we begin to proscribe 

 our gardens (and indeed bees are no friend to it) 

 should not yet be banish'd from our care ; because 

 the excellency of the wood does commute for the 

 unagreeableness of its smell : Therefore let us furnish 

 our cold and barren hills and declivities with this 

 useful shrub, I mean the taller sort ; for dwarf and 

 more tonsile in due place ; it will increase abundantly 

 of slips set in March, and towards Bartholomew-tide, 

 as also of the seeds contain'd in the cells : These 

 trees rise naturally at Boxley in Kent in abundance, 

 and in the county of Surrey, giving name to that 

 Chalky Hill (near the famous Mole or Swallow) 

 whither the ladies, gentlemen and other water-drinkers 

 from the neighbouring Ebesham-Spaw, often resort 

 during the heat of Summer to walk, collation and 

 divert themselves in those anttiex natural alleys, and 

 shady recesses, among the box-trees ; without taking 

 any such offence at the smell, which has of late 

 banish'd it from our groves and gardens ; when after 

 all, it is infinitely to be preferr'd for the bordering 

 of flower-beds, and flat embroideries, to any sweeter 

 les-lasting shrub whatever, subject after a year or 

 two to grow dry, sticky and full of gaps ; which box 

 is so little obnoxious to, that, braving all seasons, it 

 needs not to be renew'd for 20 years together, nor 

 kept in order with the garden-sheers, above once or 

 twice a year, and immediately upon that, the casting 

 water on it, hinders all those offensive emissions, 

 which some complain of : But whilst I speak in 

 favour of this sort of edging, I only recommend the 



1 Arbutese crates, & mystica vannus lacchi. 



Georg. i. 



