THE ORIENTAL PLANE. 



211 



quisitely figured by Strutt in his Sylva. He says, 

 " Lee Court remains at present much in the state 

 in which it was during Evelyn's time; and the 

 idea of this Plane-tree having been examined by 

 him with curiosity and interest, as one of the first 

 introduced into this country, is sufiicient to give 

 it value in the eyes of all who are acquainted with 

 his admirable genius and virtues, independent of 

 the attraction which it may boast on its own 

 beauty. The circumference of this tree at six 

 feet from the ground, is fourteen feet eight inches ; 

 it rises to the height of about sixty-five feet, and 

 contains three hundred and one feet of timber." 



Though the Plane was very rare in Evelyn's 

 time, it was introduced a hundred years before, 

 for Turner, in his Herbal (1541-1568), says : — 



" I have seene two very young trees in England, 

 which were called there Playn trees ; whose leaves 

 in all poyntes were lyke unto the leaves of the 

 Italian Playn tre. And it is doubtles that these 

 two trees were either brought out of Italy, or of 

 som farr countre beyond Italy, whereunto the 

 frieres, monks, and chanons went a pilgrimage." 



