35 



nine feet in girth at a yard from the base, and must have borne the 

 brunt of a great number of storms, in all probability for not less than 

 fire centuries, if not more, and is likely to endure a century longer. 



Very few Maples of large size have been mentioned by writers on 

 forest trees, and it has been stated by the Rev. 0. A. Johns, in his 

 " Forest Trees of Britain," that " the largest Maple now existing in 

 England, and the only one to which any particular interest attaches 

 itself, is that over-shadowing the grave of Gilpin, the author of 

 " Forest Scenery," in Boldre churchyard, Hampshire. This is ten 

 feet in circumference at the ground, and at four feet from the ground 

 is seven feet six inches. Several of the Sherborne Maples, however, 

 exceed these dimensions, and, as now brought to the notice of Dorset 

 Naturalists, may perhaps deserve as much attention and remark as 

 that venerated tree in Boldre churchyard. 



The Maple was much honoured and prized in ancient times, for 

 Virgil represents Evander, who was a provincial king, as receiving 

 ^Eneas seated on a Maple throne Solique invitat acerno and 

 Chaucer makes the Maple as forming a bower for the fair Rosamond. 

 The wood was much esteemed among the Romans for making tables 

 from the closeness of its grain, and Maple bowls were formerly not 

 very uncommon. Even in Evelyn's time, the author of "Sylva," he 

 says that the wood of the Maple was much esteemed for all kinds of 

 turnery ware ; but the crockery of Wedgwood and the Potteries has 

 consigned nearly all wooden ware to the memory of old-fashioned 

 times, and the "piggins" once seen in all farmhouse kitchens can no 

 longer be met with. This change of performance may be favour- 

 able to the continuance of the Maple in its sylvan haunts, for the 

 bread-plates of the present day are formed from wood easier to 

 fashion and carve than the hard and close grain of the Maple would 

 be, even if it could be met with in greater abundance than it now is. 



