141 



THE BOX-TREE. 



The Box-tree is scarcely now to be met 

 with in England^ except in gardens and shrub- 

 beries. Formerly, however, it was frequent ; 

 and Box-hill, in Surrey, takes its name from 

 a profusion of these beautiful trees, which, un- 

 til lately, grew there, from twelve to fifteen 

 feet in height, with trunks from nine to eighteen 

 inches in girth. The box used for the edgings 

 of walks in pleasure grounds is a variety, but 

 it is impossible to make a tree of it. 



Box-wood is so exceedingly smooth, hard, 

 and compact, and works so well, that it almost 

 takes the place of metals for many purposes ; 

 carpenter's rules, and other measures, on which 

 figures are to be cut, are therefore made of 



