DECIDUOUS TREES. 385 



to the attacks of a borer, and the leaves are favorite food for worms 

 to such an extent that few sycamores are seen which are not every 

 summer denuded of half their foliage by these pests. The leaves 

 also expand late, drop early, and are apt to rot where they drop. 

 For these reasons it is less desirable than many other trees for 

 streets or pleasure grounds. 



The Oriental Plane Tree. P. orientalis. — This species re- 

 sembles our maples almost as much as it does its brother the 

 sycamore. It is hardy, and in many respects more valuable for 

 decorative planting than the American species. Whether the fol- 

 lowing analysis of its character, which we quote from Loudon, is 

 verified by its growth in this country, we have not had the means 

 of judging, but it seems likely to form a connecting link between 

 our compact and slower-growing maples and the loose rank growth 

 of the sycamore. The passage quoted, however, is given quite as 

 much for the purpose of presenting a fine analysis of the character- 

 istics of trees as to call attention to the particular merits of the 

 tree under consideration r 



" 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 properties result from the large size of its 

 leaves. In summer these present horizontal imbricated masses, 

 which, while they are favorable to the passage of the breeze, yet 

 exclude both the sun and rain ; while, as the distance at which the 

 branches and twigs of trees are from one another, is always propor- 

 tionate 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 themselves horizontally to 

 a considerable distance, to bend gracefully toward 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 

 25 



