32 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



might have been introduced by her at that 

 time, as it is noticed that wherever she passed 

 she was treated with honours that had never 

 been before paid to an English subject. 



The laurel was become common in this 

 country in 1664, as Evelyn observes, that 

 " from the use we commonly put the lauro- 

 cerasus, the cherry bay, to, it seems as if it 

 had been only destined for hedges, and to 

 cover bare walls." Eay, in 1688, relates, that 

 it was then very common in English gardens 

 and plantations ; that it flowered and fruited 

 very well ; was very patient of cold, and 

 braved our winters even in an exposed si- 

 tuation. 



This evergreen grows naturally on the east- 

 ern borders of the Black Sea, particularly 

 in the vicinity of Trebisond, as also on the 

 Caucasian mountains, which extend from the 

 Black to the Caspian Sea. It grows also on 

 some mountains in Persia, and in Crimea. It 

 seems to love a moist soil, and to thrive in 

 our atmosphere much better than in most 

 parts of the Continent. At the present time 

 it is even rare in the gardens around Paris ; 

 and a very small plant of it at the tomb of 

 Delille is all we observed at Pere la Chaise. 

 It is the Cerasus lauro-cerasus of M. Jussieu, 

 the celebrated botanist ; but it is commonly 



