264 THE LIME-TREE. 



be used in forming mats for gardens undergo a sort of 

 bleaching, for the purpose of depriving them of part of 

 their mucilage, which would otherwise render them too 

 liable to increase and diminish in bulk by atmospheric 

 changes. The great advantage of Lime or bast mats, 

 over all others, in gardens, is that they do not so easily 

 rot from being exposed to moisture." 



The superiority of Lime-wood for the purposes of sculp- 

 ture is confirmed by the fact that Gibbon, the celebrated 

 carver in wood, preferred it to any other. This remarkable 

 person was first introduced to public notice by Evelyn, 

 the author of the " Sylva," himself a man who, whether as 

 a churchman, a citizen, or a man of taste, may serve as a 

 model to his countrymen. 



To the above-mentioned uses to which the Lime may be 

 applied Loudon adds the following. The Russian pea- 

 sants weave the bark of the young shoots for the upper 

 part of their shoes ; the outer bark serves for the soles : 

 and they also make of it baskets and boxes for domestic 

 purposes. The fishermen of Sweden make nets for catch- 

 ing fish of the fibres of the inner bark separated by 

 maceration, so as to form a kind of flax ; and the shep- 

 herds of Carniola weave a coarse cloth of it, which serves 

 them for their ordinary clothing. The sap drawn off in 

 the spring affords a considerable quantity of sugar ; and the 

 seed may be converted into an oily substance resembling 

 chocolate, but unfortunately of little value, as it soon 

 becomes rancid. 



Several American species of Lime have been introduced 

 into England; but none of these require a particular 

 notice. 



