Box is thought to be the assur-wood of the Bible. There is authority for using greenery in church decoration for in Isaiah we read: "The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee; the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box together to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the places of my feet glorious."[90] [90] Chap. LX, v. 13. To dream of box, according to the astrologers of Shakespeare's time, signified a happy marriage, long life, and prosperity. Box was used for decoration in the Tudor and Stuart days and succeeded the Christmas garlands, as Herrick sings in the time of Charles I, at Candlemas (February 2): Down with the Rosemary and Bays, Down with the Mistletoe, Instead of Holly now upraise The greener Box for show. The Holly hitherto did sway, Let Box now domineer Until the dancing Easter Day On Easter eve appear. The youthful Box which now hath grace Your houses to renew, Grown old, surrender must his place Unto the crispèd Yew. When Yew is out, then Birch comes in, And many flowers beside, Both of a fresh and fragrant kin To honor Whitsuntide. Green rushes then and sweetest Bents, With cooler oaken boughs Come in for comely ornaments To re-adorn the house. Thus a constant succession of decorative flowers and evergreens appeared in the houses of Old England. Every season had its appropriate flowers, each and all emblematical. It was also the same in the Church. An English writer remarks: "Mindful of the Festivals which our Church prescribes, I have sought to make these objects of floral nature the timepieces of my religious calendar and the mementos of the hastening period of my mortality. Thus, I can light my taper to our Virgin Mother in the blossoming of the white Snowdrop, Which opens its flower at the time of Candlemas; the Lady's Smock and Daffodil remind me of the Annunciation; the blue Harebell of the Festival of St. George; the Ranunculus of the Invention of the Cross; the Scarlet Lychnis of St. John the Baptist's day; the White Lily of the Visitation of Our Lady; the Virgin's Bower of the Assumption; and Michaelmas, Martinmas, Holy Rood and Christmas have all their appropriate decorations." PART THREE PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS THE LAY-OUT OF STATELY AND SMALL FORMAL GARDENS I _The Stately Garden_