ARBORETUM AM) FRUTICETL'M. 



and large-lcavcil varieties. The leaves, lie says, are s\veet, and used as fodder 

 tor most kinds of eattle. The tree was highly esteemed by the Romans for 

 it> shade; and, according to IMiin, tor tlie numerous uses to which its wood 

 mi_ r ht be applied. In modern times, the lime tree was one of the first to 

 attract the notice of writers on plants ; and, accordingly, it occupies a con- 

 siderable space in the works of L'Obel, (ierard, Rav, and the various den- 

 drological authors previously to the time of Linmeus, who describes only 

 two sj)ccics, T. europa/a and 7'. amerieami; but M. Ventenat, in 1798, 

 describes three European species and three American ones. J)e Candollc 

 has described ten species. Eveixn, .speaking of the lime tree, says, " It 

 is a shameful negligence that we are no better provided with nurseries 

 tor a tree so choice, and so universallv acceptable. \\ e semi, commonly, 

 for this tree into Flanders and Holland, while our woods do in some 

 places spontaneously produce them." The lime tree has long been a 

 favourite tree for avenues and public \\alks ; it is planted in the streets of 

 some of the principal towns of France, Holland, and (icrmany: and it forms 

 avenues to eountrv seats, both on the Continent and in Great Britain. " The 

 French," I)u Ilamel says, " growing tired of the horsechestnut for avenues, 

 adopted the lime for that purpose, in the time of Louis XIV.; and, accord- 

 inulv, the approaches to the residences of the French, as well as English, 

 gentry of that date are bordered with lime trees"; and Fenelon, Sir .1. E. 

 Smith observes, " in conformity to this taste, decorates, with 'flowery lime 

 trees,' hi, enchanted Isle of C'alvpso." The lime trees in St. James's 

 Park are said to have been planted at the suggestion of Evelyn ; probably 

 with a view to the improvement of the air, ami to avert, in part, the 

 evils pointed out in his Fu/>i/f<t<rin)n. The Dutch plant the lime in towns, 

 along their widest streets, and by the sides of their canals; and the whole 

 countrv is perfumed by their flowers during the months of July and August, 

 in Mil.cr's time, the tree benan to be little esteemed, on account of its coming 

 into leaf late in the spring, and beginning to decay earlv in autumn ; more 

 especially \\hcii planted in a dry soil. Since the modern st\le of la\ing out 

 grounds has rendered straight avenues nnlhshionable, the lime tree has not 

 been nearly so much planted as former!\ ; and its ihief use at present, both 

 in Britain and on the Continent, is for planting public walks and promenades. 

 /'/"/!<//,'/'.>; ft/id I '.'<:-:. The wood of the lime tree is of pale vello\\ or white, 

 close-grained, so.'r, light, and smooth, and not attacked by insects. It is 

 used hv pianoforte-makers tor sounding-boards, and by cabinet-makers tor a 

 variety of purposes. It is turned into domestic utensils of various kinds; 

 carved into to\s, and turned into small boxes tor the apothecaries. The most 

 elegant use to \\hich it is applied is for calling, for which it is superior to 

 everv other wood. Alanv ot 'the fine, carvings in Windsor Castle, Trinity Col- 

 lege Lihrarv at Cambridge, and in the Duke of Devonshire's mansion at Chats- 

 worth, are of this wood. It is supposed by some, that the blocks employed by 

 Holbein for wood-engravings were of this tree. The wood is said to make 

 excellent charcoal for gunpowder; even better than alder, and nearly as good 

 as ha/el. Baskets and cradles were fonncrU made from the twins; and shoe- 

 makers and L'lovers are said to prefer planks of lime tree lor cutting the liner 

 kinds of leather upon. 'File leaves of the lime tree, in common with those 

 of the elm and the poplar, were used, both in a dried and in a green state, 

 for feeding cattle, by the K'oman-,; and they are still collected for the same 

 ] '.i.'pose in Sweden, Norway, Carniolu, and S\\ it/crland ; thoujh in Sweden, 

 Linn;iMis sius, the\ communicate a bad flavour to the milk of cows. One of 

 the most important uses of the lime live, in the north of Europe, is that of 

 supplying material for forming ropes and mats; the latter of which enter 

 extensively into European commerce. The l\u-sian pea- ants weave the bark 

 of the. Nouni: shoots tor the upper parts of their shoes, the outer bark serves 

 f./r the'soh.-.i ; and they also n ake of it, tied tog< ther will) strips of the inner 

 bark, baskets and boxes for dom-. >:ic purposes. The outer bark of old trees 

 supplies them, like that of the birch, with tiles for covering their cottages. 



