F O R E S T - T R E E S. 107 



I J trees ; and their fine regular fpreading heads, of chearful 

 green, renders them extremely proper, either for clumps in parks, 

 groves, fingle trees, or avenues. 



Next to the Platanus this plant was moft efteemed by the an- 

 tient Romans, both for its grateful fliade, and timber immortal, 

 as they ftiled it. Of this the vaft fum offered by CrafTus to Do- 

 mitius for half a dozen of them, growing about his houfe in 

 Rome, is an inconteftible proof. It is doubtlefs amongfl the 

 hardefl wood of any we know : It was formerly ufed for pipes, 

 and all kinds of wind-inftruments ; and the roots mak^ excellent 

 handles for knives, with many different kinds of tools that re- 

 quire flrength and folidity. 



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