CHAP. XC1X. 



1341 



Statistics. The largest box trees In the neighbourhood of London are at Syoti, where there arc 

 various trees from 13ft. to 16ft. in height. There is also one at Kew, 15ft. high. In the Oxford 

 Botanic Garden, there arc two old box trees, one of which, in 1835, was 21 ft. high, the diameter of 

 the trunk 7^ in., and of the head 18ft. The largest box hedge in England is at IVtworth, where 

 it is more than K> ft. broad at the bottom, 15 ft. high, and 40 yards long : it is rappowd to be upwards 

 of two centuries old. The oldest sculpturesque topiary works in England are in tiie garden at Leven's 

 Grove, in Westmoreland, laid out in the time of James II. In Scotland, at West Plean, near 

 Stirling, there is a box tree, 10 years planted, that is (i ft. high. In France, in the Jardin dcs Plantcs, 

 a box tree, upwards of 100 years planted, has attained the height of 30ft. 



Commercial Statistics. Plants of the tree box, in the London nurseries, are 

 from 6d. to 1*. Gd. each, according to the size of the variety : at Bollwyller 

 plants of the species are 50 cents each ; and of the varieties, from 1 franc to 

 1 \ francs each : at New York, plants, or the tree kind are 25 cents each ; and 

 of its varieties, 37 cents. The dwarf box is sold, in English nurseries, at QcL 

 per yard ; at New York, at 50 cents per yard. 



1 2. B. BALEA'RICA Willd. The Balearic Box. 



Identification. Willd. Arb., 50., Sp. PI. 4., p. 337. ; ?Lam. Encyc., 1. p. 505. 1220 



Syiionywcs. B. s. var. gigantoa N. Du Ham., 1. p. 82. ; Minorca Box; 

 Bub de Minorque, Buis de Mahon, Fr. ; Balearischer Buchsbaum, Ger. 

 Engravings. N. Du Ham., pi. 23. f. 1. ; and mirfigs. 1220. and 1221. 



Spec. C/tar.,$c. Disk of leaf oblong ; footstalk glabrous. 

 Anthers arrow-shaped, linear. (Willd. Sp P/. t iv. p. 

 338.) A native of Minorca, Sardinia, and Corsica ; 

 and growing there, according to the Nonvcau Du Ha- 

 met, to the height of 80 ft. It is also found in great 

 abundance on all the rocky surfaces both of European 

 and Asiatic Turkey. It was first brought to France 

 about 1770; whence it was introduced into England 

 in 1780. In both countries, it was at first treated as a 

 green-house plant ; but it was afterwards found quite 

 hardy. In Paris, according to the Nouveau Du Haniel,- 

 it was found to resist the severe frosts of 1794 and 

 1799. The Balearic box is a very handsome species, with leaves three 

 times as large as those of B. sempervirens, and a straight smooth trunk. 

 The leaves, when the plant is fully exposed 

 to the air, are of a much paler green than 

 those of the common box ; but, when they 

 are in the shade, they are of an intensely 

 deep green. The wood is said to be of a 

 brighter yellow than that of the common 

 box. It is sent to England in large quantities 

 from Constantinople, for the use of the wood- 

 engravers ; but, being of a coarser grain, it 



is inferior to that of the B. sempervirens. It is propagated by cuttings, 

 which, if placed in sandy soil under glass, or in heat, generally strike 

 root in about two months after being taken off. Cuttings will also succeed, 

 if treated like those of the common box. 



Statistics. The largest plant within 10 miles of London is at Kew, where it is 13 ft high. At 

 Walton on Thames, at Lady Tankerville's, it is 10 ft. high. In Sussex, at Arundel Castle, it is 17 ft. 

 bigh. Price of plants, in the London nurseries, Is. 6d. each ; at New York, where it requires protec- 

 tion during winter, 37J cents. 



A pp. i. Half-hardy Species of Tttixus. 



B. chinensis Lk. is a native of China, introduced in 1802, and growing about 3ft. high; nnd 

 B. tiustn'i/is Cun. is a native of New Holland, growing about 6ft. high. Both require protection 

 during winter, but would probably succeed against a conservative wall. 



A true species of /?uxus, Mr. Royle observes, is common in the Himalayas, found chiefly in valleys, 

 as at Mugra, Kamaon, &c. It grows to a considerable size and thickness, and the wood appears as 

 compact and good as that of the common box. 



App. I. Half-hardy Species belonging to the 



On looking over the genera belonging to this order in the Hortvs Britannicus, several ligneous 

 -ptrii-s will be observed indicated as requiring the green-house ; but, as very few of them are oi 

 much beauty, we consider it unnecessary to go into many detail* respecting them. 



