CHAP. XC1X.

EUVUOllKIA'CEAi. BU'XUS.

134-1

Statistics. The largest box trees in the neighbourhood of London are at Syon, where there arevarious trees from 13ft. to 16ft. in height. There is also one at Kew, 15 ft. high. In the OxfordBotanic Garden, there are two old box trees, one of which, in 1835, was 21 ft. high., the diameter ofthe trunk 7iin., and of the head 18 ft. The largest box hedge in England is at Petworth , whereit is more th'an 12 ft. broad at the bottom, 15 ft. high, and 40 yards long : it is supposed to be upwardsof two centuries old. The oldest sculpturesque topiary works in England are in the garden at Leven’sGrove, in Westmoreland, laid out in the time of James II . In Scotland , at West Plean, nearStirling , there is a box tree, ft) years planted, that is 6 ft. high. In France , in the Jardin des Plantes ,a box tree, upwards of 100 years planted, has attained the height of 30ft.

Commercial Statistics. Plants of the tree box, in the London nurseries, arefrom 6 d. to Is. 6d. each, according to the size of the variety: at Bollwyllerplants of the species are 50 cents each; and of the varieties, from 1 franc to1J francs each : at New York , plants, or the tree kind are 25 cents each ; andof its varieties, 37J cents. The dwarf box is sold, in English nurseries, at 6d.per yard; at New York , at 50 cents per yard.

1?20

J 2. B. balea'rica Willd. The Balearic Box.

Identification. Willd. Art)., 50., Sp. PI. 4., p. 337.; ?Lam. Encyc. , 1. p. 505.

Synonymes. B. s. var. gigantfca N. Du Ham., 1. p. 82.; Minorca Box;

Buis de Minorque, Buis de Mahon, Fr .; Balearischer Buchsbaum, Ger.

Engravings. N. Du Ham., pi. 23. f. 1.; and our figs. 1220. and 1221.

Spec. Char., fyc. Disk of leaf oblong; footstalk glabrous.

Anthers arrow-shaped, linear. {Willd. Sp. PI., iv. p.

338.) A native of Minorca , Sardinia , and Corsica;and growing there, according to the Nouveau Du Ha- ■mel, to the height of 80 ft. It is also found in greatabundance on all the rocky surfaces both of European and Asiatic Turkey. It was first brought to France about 1770; whence it was introduced into Englandin 1780. In both countries, it was at first treated as agreen-house plant; but it was afterwards found quitehardy. In Paris , according to the Nouveau Du Hamel,it was found to resist the severe frosts of 1794 and1799. The Balearic box is a very handsome species, with leaves threetimes as large as those of B. sempervirens, and a straight smooth trunk.The leaves, when the plant is fully exposed -to the air, are of a much paler green thanthose of the common box; but, when theyare in the shade, they are of an intenselydeep green. The wood is said to be of abrighter yellow than that of the commonbox. It is sent to England in large quantitiesfrom Constantinople , for the use of the wood-engravers ; but, being of a coarser grain, itis inferior to that of the B. sempervirens.which, if placed in sandy soil under glass, or in heat, generally strikeroot in about two months after being taken off. Cuttings will also succeed,if treated like those of the common box.

Statistics. The largest plant within 10 miles of London is at Kew, where it is 13 ft high. AtVtalton on Thames,at Lady Tankerviile’s,it is 1 Oft. high. In Sussex, at Arundel Castle , it is 17 ft.ign I rice of plants, in the London nurseries, Is. (id. each : at New York , where it requires protec-tion during winter, 37i cents.

1221

It is propagated by cuttings,

App. i. Half-hardy Species of B uxus.

B. chminsis Lk. is a native of China , introduced in 1802, and growing about 3ft. high; and, '‘ HfiStralis Cun. is a native of New Holland, growing about 6 ft. high. Both require protectionring winter, but would probably succeed against a conservative wall.asfttM 6 s * )ec ‘£ s -Etixus, Mr. Hoyle observes, is common in the Himalayas , found chiefly in valleys,iVJ , u 8 ra ,> Kamaon, &c. It grows to a considerable size and thickness, and the wood appears ascompact and good as that of the common box.

App. I. Half-hardy Species belonging to the Order Yjuphorbikces:.

ov ? r tllG § cnGra belonging to this order in the llortus Britannzcus, several ligneousmnrhhn * °“ served indicated as requiring the green-house; but, as very few of them are ofoeauty, we consider it unnecessary to go into many details respecting them,