CHAP. CVII. PLATANA^CE^. PLA'TANUS. 2041 



oil, and then highly polished, resembles the wood of the walnut. In Britain, 

 as far as we know, the wood of the Oriental plane has scarcely been applied 

 to any purpose either useful or ornamental ; though for both it may be 

 classed, as Marshall suggests, with that of the ^^cer Pseudo-Platanus ; or, 

 according to some French authors, with that of the beech or the hornbeam. 

 By the Persians, and by the Greeks and Romans, as we have already seen, 

 the tree, in a growing state, was greatly esteemed for its shade, and was planted 

 near houses, in open groves, avenues, and rows, for that purpose. Pliny 

 affirms that there is no tree whatsoever that defends us so well from the heat 

 of the sun in summer, or that admits it more kindly in winter. Both pro- 

 perties result from the large size of its leaves : in summer, these present 

 horizontal imbricated masses, which, while they are favourable to the passage 

 of the breeze, yet exclude both the sun and the rain ; while, as the distance at 

 which the branches and twigs of trees are from one another, is always pro- 

 portionate to the size of the leaves, hence the tree, in winter, is more than 

 usually open to the sun's rays. As an ornamental tree, no one, which attains so 

 large a size, has a finer appearance, standing singly, or in small groups, upon 

 a lawn, where there is room to allow its lower branches, which stretch them- 

 selves horizontally to a considerable distance, gracefully to bend towards the 

 ground, and turn up at their extremities. The peculiar characteristic of the 

 tree, indeed, is the combination which it presents of majesty and gracefulness ; 

 an expression which is produced by the massive, and yet open and varied 

 character of its head, the bending of its branches, and their feathering to 

 the ground. In this respect, it is greatly superior to the lime tree, which 

 comes nearest to it in the general character of the head ; but which forms 

 a much more compact and lumpish mass of foliage in summer, and, in winter, 

 is so crowded with branches and spray, as to prevent, in a great measure, the 

 sun from penetrating through them. The head of the plane tree, during sun- 

 shine, often abounds in what painters call flickering lights ; the consequence 

 of the branches of the head separating themselves into what may be called hori- 

 zontal undulating strata, or, as it is called in artistical phraseology, tufting, 

 easily put in motion by the wind, and through openings in which the rays of the 

 sun penetrate, and strike on the foliage below. The tree is by no means so 

 suitable for an extensive park, or for imitations of forest scenery, as most 

 others ; but, from its mild and gentle expression, its usefulness for shade 

 in summer, and for admitting the sun in winter, it is peculiarly adapted for 

 pleasure-grounds, and, where there is room, for planting near houses and build- 

 ings. For the latter purpose, it is particularly well adapted even in winter, 

 from the colour of the bark of the trunk, which has a greyish white tint, not 

 unlike the colour of some kinds of freestone. The colour of the foliage, 

 in dry soil, is also of a dull greyish green ; which, receiving the light in nume- 

 rous horizontal tuftings, readily harmonises with the colour of stone walls. It 

 appears, also, not to be much injured by smoke, since there are trees of it of 

 considerable size in the very heart of London : one, for example, in Cheapside. 

 Soil, Situation, Propagation, Si-c. A light deep free soil, moist, but not wet 

 at bottom, is that on which the Oriental plane tree thrives best ; and the situ- 

 ation should be sheltered, but, at the same time, not shaded or crowded by 

 other trees. It will scarcely grow in strong clays, and on elevated exposed 

 places ; nor will it thrive in places where the lime tree does not prosper. 

 The plane tree may be propagated by seeds, layers, or cuttings. The seeds 

 should be gathered in October or November ; and, the balls being broken by the 

 hand, or by threshing with a flail, the seeds may be separated from their husks, 

 and cleaned by the usual processes, and either sown immediately, or mixed 

 with sand, or fine sandy soil, and preserved in a place secure from frost till 

 February or March. The seeds may also be kept in the balls, or catkins, 

 till spring ; either by allowing them to hang on the tree, or by gathering them 

 in autumn, and spreading them out in a dry loft. The general practice is to 

 sow the seeds in autumn, or as soon as gathered, or received from the Con- 

 tinent j choosing a moist rich soil, and a shady situation, and covering them 



