220 SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



" At Depeham, in Norfolk, grows an extraordinary 

 Lime tree, the compass of which, in the least part of the 

 body, is eight yards and a half, and about the roots, near 

 the earth, it measures sixteen yards. This surmounts the 

 famous Lime of Zurich in Switzerland, and uncertain it 

 is whether in any Lime-walk abroad it be considerably 

 exceeded." 



This tree was ninety feet high. 



The wood of the Lime tree is turned into light bowls, 

 and dishes, and boxes for the apothecaries ; but its chief 

 use is for carving : 



Their beauteous veins the yew 



And phillyrea lend, to surface o'er 

 The cabinet. Smooth linden best obeys 

 The carver's chisel ; best his curious work 

 Displays in all its nicest touches." 



DODSLEY'S Agriculture. 



" Many of Gibbons's beautiful works in Lime tree are 

 dispersed about this country ," says Martyn, " in the 

 churches and palaces : as in the choir of St. Paul's ; the 

 Duke of Devonshire's at Chatsworth ; Trinity College 

 library, at Cambridge, &c." Evelyn, speaking of these 

 works of Gibbons, says, " Having had the honour (for so 

 I account it) to be the first who recommended this great 

 artist to his Majesty Charles the Second : I mention it 

 on this occasion with much satisfaction."" 



" With the twigs of the Lime, 1 ' 1 observes this delightful 

 author, " they make baskets and cradles, and of the 

 smoother side of the bark, tablets for writing ; for the 

 ancient Philyra is but our Tilia, of which Munting 

 affirms he saw a book made of the inward bark, written 

 about a thousand years since. Such another was brought 

 to the Count of St. Amant, governor of Arras, 1662, for 

 which there were given eight thousand ducats by the 



