BAY. 65 



hardy enough, grow upright, and would make a noble 

 Daphneon." 



Virgil celebrates the filial affection of the Bay, where, 

 speaking of the different methods of propagating trees, he 

 says, 



" Others have a thick wood arousing from their roots ; as cherries, 

 and elms : the little Parnassian bay also shelters itself under the great 

 shade of its mother." MARTYN'S TRANSLATION, p. 114. 



This would not, perhaps, convey to us so strong a 

 meaning, did we not know, as Evelyn informs us, that 

 while young, this tree thrives not well any where but under 

 its " mother's shade : where nothing else will thrive." 



The Bay is a native of Asia, and the southern parts of 

 Europe ; it is not uncommon in the woods and hedges in 

 Italy. The Abbe St. Pierre observes, " that it grows in 

 abundance on the banks of the river Peneus, in Thessaly, 

 which might well give occasion to the fable of the meta- 

 morphosis of Daphne, the daughter of that river." 



It may be raised from berries, suckers, cuttings, or layers : 

 it will bear the open air, and when grown to a tolerable 

 size, requires no other care than to water it occasionally in 

 dry weather, to prune it in the spring, and to shift it into 

 a larger pot when it has outgrown the old one. In doing 

 this, the earth must not be cleared from the roots. A Bay- 

 tree must not be hastily dismissed when it appears dead, 

 but should be preserved till the second year ; for when past 

 hope of recovery, they will often revive, and flourish again 

 as well as ever. 



On this account Sir Thomas Browne particularly admires 

 a custom in Christian countries, of throwing a sprig of Bay 

 upon the coffin when interred, as being an excellent symbol 

 of immortality. 



The Bay is mentioned in many ancient records, as having 

 been used together with holly, rosemary, See. to deck houses 



