PLANE TREE. 



329 



" These plants are not so discourteous as entirely to shut out the 

 rays of the sun from this delightful gi'ove^ but in various parts 

 graciously received them, so that there was scarcely a spot of grass 

 that did not take pleasure in them ; and this retreat is at all times 

 beautiful, though more lovely in the flowery spring than in any 

 other season." 



Evelyn supposes this tree to have been introduced 

 here by Lord Bacon, who had a fine plantation of them 

 at Verulam ; but this Mr. Martyn has proved to be a 

 mistake, since, according to Turner''s Herbal, it was cul- 

 tivated here as early as 1562, but one year after Lord 

 Bacon was bom. He allows, however, that the plantations 

 at Verulam might be the first of any note or consideration. 



With us it is considered merely as an ornamental tree, 

 and as affording an agreeable shade ; but it is recorded 

 that the Turks formerly built their ships with, its timber. 

 It is rather late in producing its leaves, and too quick 

 in parting with them. 



Pausanias mentions a tree of extraordinary size and 

 beauty in Arcadia, supposed to have been planted by 

 3/Ienelaus. If this were the case, the tree must have 

 been thirteen hundred years old ; and it is thought a 

 Plane tree of that age could not be in a state of vigour 

 and beauty. 



It is said that the Plane was held sacred to Helen, the 

 wife of Menelaus. 



Pliny mentions a Plane tree in Lycia, v/hich mouldered 

 away into an immense cave, eighty feet round. Licinius 

 ?vlutianus, governor of that province, with eighteen 

 others, dined commodiously on the benches of pumice 

 placed round the body of it. He speaks of another that 

 belonged to Caligula, growing at his villa, near Velitrs, 

 the hollow trunk of which held fifteen persons at dinner, 



