64 Box. 
maker, rulers, rolling-pins, pestles, mall-balls, beetles, 
tops, chessmen, tables, screws, bobbins for bone-lace, 
spoons, knife-handles, but especially combs.” Most of 
those engravings in books, called wood-cuts, are done 
upon Box wood, and for that purpose English Box is 
superior to any other, though a great portion of what 
is used in this country comes from the Levant. The 
ancients used combs made of Box-wood, and also 
instruments to be played on with the mouth. The 
Romans used to adorn their gardens with it, clipped 
into form, as we find from mention being made of 
clipped Box-trees by their winters. It was formerly 
much cut in this manner here, and was ranked next to 
the Yew for its capabilities of taking artificial and gro¬ 
tesque forms; but except a few ancient hedges of Box, 
like our own, and those at Castle Bromwich Hall, 
where the Yew hedges are also preserved, there are not 
many vestiges of its former garden-glory remaining. 
A dwarf kind is used for making a neat and firm edging 
to flower borders, for which nothing answers so well, 
or produces so proper an effect. 
Though youth be past, and beauty fled, 
The constant heart its pledge redeems, 
Like Box, that guards the flowerless bed, 
And brighter from the contrast seems. 
Mrs. Hale. 
