ich needs not be
kept above two inches high, and yet grows so close, that beds bordered
with boards, keep not the earth in better order; beside the pleasantness
of the verdure is incomparable.

One thing more I think fit to add; That it may be convenient once in
four, or five, or six years, to cut off the strings and roots which
straggle into the borders, with a very sharp spade, that they may not
prejudice the flowers, and what else one plants in them.

I need not speak much of the uses of this tree, (growing in time to
considerable stature) so continually sought after for many utensils,
being so hard, close and pondrous as to sink like lead in water, and
therefore of special use for the turner, ingraver, carver,
mathematical-instrument, comb and pipe-makers (_si buxos inflare
juvat_...... Virg.) give great prices for it by weight, as well as
measure; and by the seasoning, and divers manner of cutting, vigorous
insolations, politure and grinding, the roots of this tree (as of even
our common and neglected thorn) do furnish the inlayer and
cabinet-makers with pieces rarely undulated, and full of variety. Also
of box are made wheels or shivers (as our ship-carpenters call them) and
pins for blocks and pullies; pegs for musical instruments; nut-crackers,
weavers-shuttles, hollar-sticks, bump-sticks, and dressers for the
shooe-maker, rulers, rolling-pins, pestles, mall-balls, beetles, topps,
tables, chess-men, screws, male and female, bobins for bone-lace,
spoons, nay the stoutest axle-trees, but above all,

........Box-combs bear no small part
In the militia of the female-art;
They tye the links which hold our gallants fast,
And spread the nets to which fond lovers hast.{296:1}

3. The chymical oyl of this wood has done the feats of the best
_guajacum_ (though in greater quantity) for the cure of venereal
diseases, as one of the most expert physicians in Europe has confess'd.
The oyl asswages the tooth-ache. But, says Rhodoginus, the honey which
is made at Trevisond in box-trees, (I suppose he means gather'd among
them; for there are few, I believe, if any, so large and hollow as to
lodge and hive them) renders them distracted who eat of it. Lib. XXIII.
cap. 25.

V. Since the use of bows is laid aside amongst us, the propagation of
the yew-tree (of which we have two sorts, and other places reckon more,
as the Arcadian black and red; the yellow of Ida, infinitely esteem'd of
old) is likewise quite fo