202 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK r. odoriferous, perfuming the air, and the leaf larger ; the wood is likewise 

 thicker, of small pith, and not obnoxious to the worm ; so as it seems 

 Theophrastus de Plant, lib. iii. cap. x. said true, " That though they 

 were of both sexes, yet they totally differed as to their form." We send 



well on almost any soil or situation ; but if planted in a rich and loamy earth, wherein, like 

 most other trees, it chiefly delights, the growth of it will be almost incredible. This should 

 be a great motive to the planting of this tree ; which will, in a very few years, sufficiently 

 reward the industrious planter. Of this species there are three or four varieties. 



2. TILIA fAMERicANA ) florlbus nectario instructis. Lin. Sp. PI. 733. The AUEmcAti 



LIME-TREE. 



Of this species there are a few varieties, which indeed differ very little in appearance from those 



of our common European sorts, the leaves of both being heart-shaped. There is a larger, 



and a smaller-leaved sort. Their edges are finely serrated, and end in acute points.— 

 These beautiful cordated leaves, that thus run into acute points, have their under 

 surface of a paler green than their upper. The larger-leaved kind is by far the finest 

 sort; and the branches vary from all others of this genus, in that they are covered with 

 a dark-brown bark. The flowers are furnished with nectaria ; whereas those of the common 

 Lime-tree have none : They are produced in bunches, like the common sort, and are 

 succeeded by seeds contained in coriaceous capsules.— The American sorts, as well as our 

 own, should be raised from seeds; but when we have not the conveniency of procuring the 

 seeds from abroad, a few plants must be obtained for stools. These should be planted in a 

 light rich soil, if such can be had, for there they will shoot the strongest ; though almost any 

 other will do. After these plants have stood a year or two, they should be headed near the 

 ground. They will then shoot out many young branches, which may be layered in the 

 autumn; though if they stand two years, there will be greater plenty of young twigs for 

 layering; for every shoot of the first summer will the year following divide into several. 

 When the layering of these is to be performed, which ought to be in the autumn, the strong 

 two-year's shoot must be brought down : and if they are stiff and do not bend readily, they 

 must have a gentle splash with the knife near the bottom ; a sHt should be made at the joint 

 of every one of the youngest twigs, and their ends bent backwards that the slit may be kept 

 open. This being done, the mould must be levelled among the layers, and the ends of them 

 taken off to within one eye of the ground. The business is then done; and the autumn fol- 

 lowing they will all have good roots, many of which will be strong, and fit to plant out for 

 good, whilst the weakest may be removed into the nursery-ground, in rows, to gain strength. 

 All the sorts of Lime-trees will also grow from cuttings; but this is found to be an uncertain 

 method ; and if it were more certain, still plants raised by them or layers, are not near so 

 good as those from seeds. 

 The Lime-tree is of the class and order Polyandria Momgynia, there being in every 



flower numerous stamina, and only one style. 



The flowers begin to open about the fifteenth of May, and are, in full blow by the 

 thirteenth of July, when they appear of a white colour, and have a very fragrant smell. 

 These are very grateful to bees, for which reason Virgil, in his beautiful description of the 

 industrious Corycian, places the Lime and the Pine in the neighbourhood of his hives. 



^et spumantia cogere pressis 



Mella favis ; illi tilis, atque uberrima pinus. 



