OF FOREST-TREES.

205

S. The Prince Elector did lately remove very great Lime-trees outof one of his forests at Heidelberg , to a steep hill, exceedingly exposedto the heat of the sun, and that in the midst of summer: They growbehind that strong tower on the south-west and most torrid part of theeminence, being a dry, reddish, and barren earth, yet do they prosperrarely well: But the heads were cut off, and the pits into which theywere' transplanted were (by the industry and direction of MonsieurDe Son, a Frenchman, and an admirable mechanician, who himselfrelated it to me) filled with a composition of earth and cow-dung, whichwas exceedingly beaten, and so diluted with water, as it became almosta liquid pap: It was into this that he plunged the roots, covering thesurface with the turf: A singular example of removing so great treesat such a season, and therefore taken notice of here exprefsly. Otherperfections of the tree, besides its unparalleled beauty for walks, are,that it will grow in almost all grounds; that it lasts long; that it soonheals its scars ; that it affects uprightnefs ; that it stoutly resists a storm ;that it seldom becomes hollow.

4. The timber of a well-grown Lime is convenient for any use thatthe willow is; but much to be preferred, as being stronger and yetlighter ; whence Virgil calls them Tilias leves-, and therefore fit foryokes". They are turned into boxes for the apothecaries. Columellacommends Arculas Tiliaceas. And because of its colour and easyworking, and that it is not subject to split, architects make withit models for their designed buildings ; and the carvers in wood useit not only for small figures, but large statues and entire histories in bafsand high relieve: witnefs, besides several more, the lapidation ofSt. Stephen, with the structures and elevations about it; the trophies,festoons, fruitages, encarpia, and other sculptures in the frontoons,freizes, capitals, pedestals, and other ornaments and decorations, ofadmirable invention and performance, to be seen about the choirof St. Paul’s and other churches, royal palaces, and noble houses in cityand country; all of them the works and invention of our Lysippus ,Mr. Gibbon, comparable, and, for ought appears, equal to any thingof the antients. Having had the honour (for so I account it) to be the