THE BOX. 



BUXUS SEMPERVIRENS. 



Natural Order — E i:phorbiace.e. 

 Clab, — MoNffiCiA, Order — Tetraxdria. 



Many cf my readers probably are acquainted 

 witli the subject of the present chapter only as a 

 neat edging for flower-beds, or as a shapely bush 

 in the formal garden of some antiquated manor- 

 house : yet the Box-tree has a very good claim to 

 be considered a native British tree. Its right is 

 certairJy disputed both by some of the old bo- 

 tanists, and by the more recent authors who quote 

 their opinions ; but inasmuch as it is in undeni- 

 able possession of at least one extensive district in 

 England, and has been so long enough to give to 

 that one the name of Box-hill, I think vv'e are 

 quite justified in advocating its claims to be con- 

 sidered a native tree. Besides this, not only 

 did it giv3 name to Boxley in Kent, and Box- 

 well in Gdoucestershire, which would prove, at 

 least, that it has grown at these places from time 

 immemorial, but it is expressly mentioned by 

 several authors as a native. Gerard, for instance, 

 >vho wrote in Elizabeth's reign, says : " It 

 grov/eth upon sundiy waste and barren hils in 

 Englande," Evelyn says : These trees rise 

 naturally at Boxley in Kent, and in the county 



