208 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



as unnecessary organs of the tree ; and in 

 the works of the wise Creator nothing is found 

 wanting or superfluous, but all is beautiful 

 union and harmony. 



We have already shown how careful the 

 Romans were in conveying the cherry tree 

 to this island, almost as soon as they had 

 procured it in Italy ; and it occupied their 

 earliest attention to enrich their own land by 

 such vegetable productions as the countries 

 which they visited or conquered afforded. 

 Nor did they seem more backward in beauti- 

 fying the nations subject to them in the same 

 proportion, and although there was a super- 

 abundance of timber in this country at the time 

 of their invasion, we know it consisted princi- 

 pally of oak, ash, beech, and birch, with some 

 minor trees; and every reader knows how 

 religiously the Romans adhered to the super- 

 stitious customs of their ancestors, and we all 

 know likewise how devoted most people are 

 to the customs and habits of their country. 

 It would not, therefore, be surprising or un- 

 likely that they should wish to plant the elm 

 on the graves of the heroes they lost in Bri- 

 tain. In all ages it has been found difficult to 

 change the habits of the lower classes of men, 

 and the Romans adopted particular trees for 

 particular purposes ; and we learn from Virgil 



