SYCAMOllES IN SCOTLAXD. Ml 



Of the variej^ated variety of sycamore, l;-oo(1 examples exist at 

 tlie Duke of Atliole's grounds at Dunkeld, also at Dollartield in 

 llie valley of the Devon, at Gordon Castle, and at ]\Iount 

 Stuart in Bute. 'Hie purple-leaved sycamore is another very 

 beautiful variety. Large trees of it, however, are very rare as 

 yet, and we have fallen in with none of a size worth recording 

 amongst the old and remarkable trees of Scotland. I'rDbably 

 the best specimens of this variety are those at Auclians Castle, 

 near Dundonald, in Ayrshire. 



(^f the other Acrrs in Scotland, tliere is a very good specimen 

 of the bird's eye maple (Acer sacc/ucrinv/iit) at Logan) )ank. Glen- 

 corse, in Midlotliian, girthing 6 ft. 9 in. at 3 feet from the 

 ground. Also at Biel, Haddingtonshire, a tree of this variety is 

 1 1 ft. in girth at 1 foot, and 9 ft. 6 in. at 5 feet aljove the 

 ground. It is, however, a good deal disfigured by having lost a 

 heavy limb, which has spoilt the fair i)roportions of its head and 

 contour. Many large trees of the Norway maple (A. plata- 

 noidcs) exist in difierent parts of the country, but, as it is a 

 distinct species from the sycamore, though resendjling it con- 

 siderably, we have not tabulated its statistics with those of the 

 sycamore. 



Before concluding tliese observations on this interesting and 

 popular tree, we may mention here the account of an ex]ieriment 

 made upon it at Carron Park, in Stirlingshire, on 7th and 8th 

 March 1816. "To prove the capability of the sycamore yield- 

 ing sugar, incisions were made at 5 feet from the gromid in 

 the bark of a tree about forty-five years old. A colourless and 

 transparent sap flowed freely, so as in two or three hours to till 

 a bottle capable of containing 1 lb. of water. Three bottles 

 and a half were collected, weighing in all 3 lb. 4 oz. The sap 

 was evaporated by the heat of a fire, and gave 214 grains of a 

 product, in colour resembling raw sugar, and sweet in taste, 

 witli a peculiar flavour. After being kept fifteen months, this 

 sugar was slightly moist on the surface. The quantity of sap 

 employed in the evaporation was 24,960 grains, from which 214 

 grains of sugar were obtained ; therefore, 1 1 6 parts of sap 

 yielded one part of sugar." 



The commercial value of the timber of the sycamore has 

 advanced very much during recent years, and at some sales of 

 growing trees within the past few years as high as £35 and £40 

 per tree has been obtained for large trees. It is extensively 

 sought after for the manufacture of printing rollers, and turnery 

 purposes. 



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