Under the dense foliage
of the glade, or even a single tree, sheltered from the burning
rays of the sun, weary travellers have found cool and refreshing rest. The shade of
trees, gratefully accepted, is recorded by the early Greeks and Romans. Pliny says :
"There is a little hill named Carne within the territorie of Tusculum not far
from Roman Citie
side, clad and beautiful with a goodly grove and tuft of beech trees, so even and round in the
head as if they were curiously kept cut and shorne artificially with garden sheares : ... In it
there was one especiall faire tree above the rest, which Pabienus Crispus ; a man in our daies
of great authoritie . . . cast a fancie and extra ordinarie liking unto ; insomuch as he was wont
not onely to take his repose and lie under it, to sprinkle and cast wine plentifully upon it, but
also to clip, embrace and kisse it other whiles."
Pliny was probably
referring to the woodcraft of pollarding, which was used on
beeches, oaks and willows to produce a plethora of thin branches for various uses
such as basket making and making hurdles and hot-burning faggots.