BOX TREE. 73 



ground and embosom the infant blossom, till their full ex> 

 pansion, and the ripening of the seeds." 



In the woods of Canada, and other parts of North 

 America, it grows in abundance : the Indians are said to 

 paint their faces with the juice. In this country the flowers 

 open in April, but they fully expand only in fine warm 

 weather. 



We are told, that in the year 1680 this plant was culti- 

 vated in " Mr. Walker's suburban garden in St. James's 

 Street, near the palace." Its flowers are white, and three 

 or four flower-stems spring from one root : it prefers a 

 loose soil and a shady situation, and may be annually in- 

 creased by parting the roots in September. When the 

 flowers decay, the green leaves come out, which last till 

 Midsummer : from which time till autumn the roots remain 

 inactive. It should be planted in a pot seven or eight 

 inches wide, and an equal mixture of bog earth and rotten 

 leaves will be the best soil. It must be watered every 

 evening in dry summer weather. The earth may be co- 

 vered with moss, which will tend to preserve the moisture 

 in the summer, and to protect the roots from frost in the 

 winter. 



BOX TREE. 



BUXUS. 



EUPHORBIACEjE. MONOECIA TETRANPRIA, 



French, le buis ; le bois beni [blessed wood]. Italian, busso ; bosso; 

 bossolo ; in the Brescian territory, martel [hammer wood] ; buz. 



PROPERLY speaking, there is but one species of Box; 

 varying much in size, and somewhat in the colour of its 

 leaves. It may be easily propagated both by seeds and 

 cuttings ; but is so slow of growth, as to be many years in 



