70 TREES IN NATURE, MYTH & ART 



can stand long at its base looking up among 

 the widespreading limbs so well clothed with 

 leaves of fine texture and tint". It comes 

 into leaf late, and loses its leaves early in the 

 autumn. 



Like the elm it has been much used for 

 avenues. Evelyn praises it in this respect. 

 ''Is there," he asks, ''a more ravishing, or 

 delightful object than to behold some entire 

 streets and whole towns planted with these 

 trees, in even lines before their doors, so as 

 they seem like cities in a wood? This is 

 extremely fresh, and screens the houses both 

 from winds, sun and dust ; than which there 

 can be nothing more desirable where streets 

 are much frequented." One of the most 

 famous streets in Europe, the Unter den 

 Linden of Berlin, derives its name from this 

 use of the tree. In connexion with this tree 

 Evelyn has a cutting reference to some of his 

 fellow-creatures. "Those royal plantations of 

 these trees in the parks of Hampton Court and 

 St. James's," he says, "will sufficiently instruct 

 any man how these (and indeed all other trees 

 which stand single) are to be governed, and 

 defended from the injuries of beasts, and 



