OF FOREST-TREES. 



201 



CHAP. XIV. 

 The LIME\ 



] .TiLIA, the LIME-TREE, or LINDEN, is of two kinds ; the male CH. XIV. 



(which some allow to be but a finer sort of Maple) is harder, fuller of knots, 

 andof a redder colour, but producing neither flower nor seed, so constantly 

 and so mature with us, as does the female, whose blossom is also very 



' Of this GENUS there are only two species: 



1. TILIA (EVROPJEA ) floribus nectario destitutis. Lin. Sp. PI. 733. The hiUE, or 



LINDEN TREE. 



The Lime is a handsome picturesque tree, forming a beautiful cone by its branches, and main- 

 taining its body taper and straight ; and as it will grow to a large size, it is very proper to 

 be planted for avenues : It also makes a beautiful detached object in parks and open places. 

 Although the leaves fall off very early in the autumn, yet it immediately makes amends 

 by exhibiting its beautiful aijd red twigs ; for which reason the red-twigged Lime should 

 always be preferred for these purposes. It has also other properties to recommend itself 

 to such situations : The shade is excellent ; the branches are so tough, as seldom to be broken 

 by the winds ; and if any of them should want occasionally to be taken off, no tree heals its 

 wounds sooner. It will sometimes run away from its colour, and grow with greet) branches, 

 but that is not often the case. — The Lime is best raised from seecjs ; for those trees raised 

 from layers or from cuttings never grow so handsome, or so fast, as those raised in the 

 seminary. Let the seeds be gathered from thriving healthy trees of the true red-twigged 

 kind, and then by far the greatest part of the young plants will be of that sort. The seeds 

 being ripe in October, let a dry day be made choice of for gathering theni. As these grow 

 at the extremity of the branches, it would be tedious to gather them with the hand ; thev 

 may therefore be beaten down by a long pole, having a large winnowing sheet, or some such 



thing, spread under the tree to receive them. When yoq have got a sufficient quantity, 



spread them in a dry place for a few days ; then, having procured a spot of rich garden- 

 ground, and having the mould made fine by digging and raking, let it be raked out of the 

 beds about an inch deep : These beds may be four feet wide, and the alleys a foot and 

 a half. After the mould is raked out, the earth should be gently tapped dowr) wjtli the back 

 of the "spade, to make it level ; then the seeds should be sown, at about an inch asunder, 

 all over the bed, gently pressing them down, ^nd covering them aboijt ar» inch deep. . ■ 

 In the spring of the year the young plants will make their appearance ; when they should be 

 constantly kept clear from weeds, and gently watered in very dry weather. In this seminary 

 they may stand for two years, when they will be fit to plant in the nursery ; at which )imd 

 they should be carefully taken up, their roots shortened, and the ycung side-branches, if thev 

 have shot out any, taken off. Tliey must be planted in the nursery-ground in rows, two 

 feet and a half asunder, and one foot and a half distant in the rows. There they may stand 

 till they are of a proper size to be planted for good ; observing always to dig between the rows 

 every winter, and constantly to keep the ground free from weeds. The Lime-tree will grow 



Volume I. 



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