410 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 
a synonyme of this variety ; which, in the nurseries, is sometimes 
called the eagle’s claw, or hawk’s foot, maple. 
Geography. A native of Europe, from the west coast of Norway to Swit- 
zerland, and from France to the eastern boundary of European Russia. 
Pallas says, it does not occur beyond the Ural Mountains, or in Siberia, but 
that it is common through all the woods of Russia. We observed it in 1814, in 
all the woods bordering the public road from Wilna to Mittau, and from Mos- 
cow to Galicia. Next to the birch and the trembling poplar, it seemed to us the 
most abundant tree in the Russian woods. In the north, according to Pallas, 
it forms a stunted bush ; but in the Ukraine it is a lofty tree. 
History. This species is recorded as having been first cultivated in Britain 
in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, by Mr. James Sutherland. It has since 
been very generally propagated ia Britain, and is now to be found in most 
ornamental plantations made.since the days of Miller. The largest trees in 
the neighbourhood of London are at Purser’s Cross and Syon, where they 
have attained the height of nearly 60 ft. 
Properties and Uses. The wood, im its young state, is white; but at a more 
advanced age it becomes grey. In a dry state, it weighs 43 lb. 4.0z. per cubic 
foot. It is easily worked, takes a fine polish, and absorbs and retains all kinds 
of colours. By drying it only loses a 24th part of its weight. It is used for 
all the various purposes of the wood of the common sycamore. From the 
sap, sugar has been made in Norway, Sweden, and in Lithuania. The Ger- 
man foresters have found that this sap is produced in less abundance than 
that of the sugar maple, or of the common sycamore; but that it contains 
more saccharine matier than the sap of the latter species. Some chemists have 
found that, after boring a hole at the base of the trunk, 35 quarts of sap have 
been produced in 8 days; and that 95 lb. of this sap have, by evaporation, 
given 4 lb. of syrup; and that from 80 lb. to 100 lb. of this syrup have given 
from 4:lb. to 6.lb. of crystallised sugar. After a great quantity of this sap 
has been drawn off, it begins to get thicker, muddy, and yellow in appearance, 
bitter in taste, and not productive of syrup. 
Soil and Situation. To attain a considerable size, the tree ought to be 
planted in a free, deep, rich soil, not surcharged with moisture; and the situa- 
tion ought to be low rather than high. It thrives remarkably well on the sea 
shore on the Baltic, and along the west coast of Norway, and the west coast 
of Scotland. 
Propagation and Culture. After the tree has attained a considerable size 
and age, it produces abundance of fertile seeds in England. It does so at 
Purser’s Cross, at Syon, and various other places. The varieties are propa- 
gated by grafiing or layering. The seeds, as soon as they are gathered, should 
be either immediately sown, or mixed with sand or earth, and kept moderately 
dry till spring. In either case they come up the first year. 
Accidents and Diseases. The leaves of this species, in common with those 
of A. Psetdo-Platanus, and perhaps most of the other species of A‘cer, are sub- 
ject to what is commonly called the honey dew, which, from its clamminess in 
the neighbourhood of the smoke of mineral coal, is apt to attract and retain 
the particles of soot which are continually floating in the air. In consequence 
of insects resorting to these leaves, they are frequently blackened with their 
excrements. In some parts of France this honey dew is called manna, M. 
Tschoudi says that the manna is produced by the extravasated sap; and 
that the bees are so fond of it, that it would be worth while to plant the tree 
in the neighbourhood of places where hives are kept. According to others, 
the bitterness of the matter of the leaves prevents them from being attacked 
by insects. ‘ 
Statistics. In the neighbourhood of London, the largest tree of 4. platandides is at Kew, where, 
in 70 years, it has attained the height of 76 ft. ; at Syon, it has attained the height of 64 ft., with a 
trunk 24 ft. in diameter, and the diameter of the head 64 ft.; at Kenwood there is a tree, 35 years 
planted, 47 ft. high. In Surrey, at Bagshot Park, a tree, 14 years planted, has attained the height of 
25 ft., with a trunk 16 in. in diameter. In Sussex, at West Dean, a tree of the cut-leaved variety, 
9 years planted, has attained the height of 26 ft. In Lancashire, at Latham House, a pies Pa years 
planted, is 45 ft. high, In Staffordshire, at Teddeslcy, a tree, 14 years planted, is 28 ft. high. In 
