THE LIME-TREE. 



169 



teas. The stamens are numerous, and the whole 

 flower is deliciously fragrant, especially towards 

 evening, 



— " At dewy eve 

 Diffusing odours." 



The seed-vessels are globular and downy, but 

 rarely perfect the seeds in England. While the 

 Lime-tree is in flower, it is frequented by my- 

 riads of bees, which 



" Sit on the bloom, extracting liquid sweets 

 Deliciously." 



Honey from the Lime is considered superior to 

 all other kinds for its delicacy of flavour ; it is to 

 be obtained in a perfectly pure state only at the 

 little town of Kowno in Lithuania, which is sur- 

 rounded by an extensive forest of Lime-trees. 

 The pleasing sound produced by the busy col- 

 lectors, joined to the fragrant perfume diffused 

 by the flowers, frequently gives occasion for its 

 being planted near houses, in preference to other 

 more picturesque trees. Even after the flowers 

 have faded and fallen to the ground, the odour is 

 perceptible, the ground remaining for a long while 

 thickly strewed with the withered stamens, which 

 retain their fragrance to the last. Towards the 

 end of September the leaves turn to a bright 

 yellow, and in the course of the following month 

 faU off". 



The custom of making avenues of Lime-trees 

 was adopted in the time of Louis XIV., and 

 accordingly the approaches to the residences of 

 the French as well as the English gentry of that 

 date, were bordered with Lime-trees. It subse- 

 quently fell into disrepute for this purpose, on 



