90 TREE-PLANTING. 



but is even less hardy, seldom maturing its vigo- 

 rous shoots to their extremities, so that they com- 

 monly die back a certain distance from the effects 

 of frost. The finest specimens of the plane to be 

 seen in Britain are, however, of this species, and of 

 the broad-leaved deciduous trees which succeed in 

 this climate the plane must be reckoned amongst the 

 handsomest, the motion of its large leaves when 

 agitated by a breeze, producing that flickering light 

 and shade during sunshine which is so much admired. 



The Maple (Natural order Aceracece). There are 

 about twenty hardy species of this tree cultivated in 

 Britain, comprising natives of Europe, America, and 

 India, besides many others which are too tender to be 

 reared successfully in this country. 



The largest and most common kind, though it is 

 far from being the most ornamental, is the Acer 

 fseudo-platanus, the Mock plane tree, or sycamore. 

 In Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Italy, it is 

 found associated with other trees in hilly situations, 

 and few deciduous trees are found better adapted to 

 stand singly in rough and exposed situations. It 

 generally carries a large well-balanced head, and is 

 well suited to stand the injurious effects of sea-spray. 

 It is regardless of rough winds, and from affording a 

 deep shade, it has been recommended to be planted 

 on the south sides of dairies, in order to temper the 

 heats of summer, and it affords good shelter for cattle. 

 It is said to have been introduced into Britain about 

 three centuries or more ago, and became one of our 

 earliest cultivated timber trees, when tree cultivation 

 first began to be taken up on a large scale. 



It blossoms in spring, and the seeds become ripe 



