THE LINDENS 7S 



and Germany this tree reaches noble stature and great 

 age. 



Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist, had his name from a fine 

 hnden tree, when his peasant fatlier rose to the dignity of a 

 surname. "Linn" is the Swedish word for Hnden. 

 "Carl Linne," meaning "Charles of the linden tree," it was 

 at first when he played as a boy in the shadow of its great 

 branches. "Carolus Linnaeus" he became when he was 

 appointed professor of the university at Upsala, and 

 through all time since. 



Gerarde discourses quaintly upon the linden tree in his 

 "Crete Herball" published in England in 1597. "The 

 male tree," he says, "is to me unknown." We smile at 

 his notion that there are male and female trees in this 

 family, but we wonder at the accuracy of observation 

 evinced by one who lived and wTote before the science of 

 botany had any existence. Evidently Master Gerarde 

 had a good pair of eyes, and he has well expressed the 

 things he saw. I quote a paragraph: 



"The female line, or linden tree waxeth very great and 

 thicke, spreading forth its branches wide and fare abroad, 

 being a tree which yieldeth a most pleasant shadow, under 

 and within whose boughs may be made brave siunmer 

 houses and banqueting arbors, because the more that it is 

 surcharged with weight of timlxn* and such like, the better 

 it doth flourish. The bark is brownish, very smooth and 

 plaine on the outside, but that which is next to the timber 

 is white, moist and tough, serving very well for ropes, 

 trases and halters. The timber is whitisli, ])hiine, and 

 without knots; yea, very soft and gentle in the cutting and 

 handhng. The leaves are smooth, greene, shining and 

 large, somewhat snii)t or toothed about the edges: the 

 floures are little, whitish, of a good savour, and very many 



