446 The Natural History of Selborne 



SYCAMORE. 



MAY 12. The sycamore or great maple is in bloom, and at this 

 season makes a beautiful appearance, and affords much pabulum 

 for bees, smelling strongly like honey. The foliage of this tree is 

 very fine, and very ornamental to outlets. All the maples have 

 saccharine juices. WHITE. 



GALLS OF LOMBARDY POPLAR. 



THE stalks and ribs of the leaves of the Lombardy poplar are 

 embossed with large tumours of an oblong shape, which by incurious 

 observers have been taken for the fruit of the tree. These galls are 

 full of small insects, some of which are winged, and some not. 

 The parent insect is of the genus of cynips. Some poplars in the 

 garden are quite loaded with these excrescences. WHITE. 



CHESTNUT TIMBER. 



JOHN CARPENTER brings home some old chestnut trees which are 

 very long ; in several places the wood-peckers had begun to bore 

 them. The timber and bark of these trees are so very like oak, as 

 might easily deceive an indifferent observer, but the wood is very 

 shaky, and towards the heart cup-shaky (that is to say, apt to 

 separate in round pieces like cups), so that the inward parts are of 

 no use. They are bought for the purpose of cooperage, but must 

 make but ordinary barrels, buckets, &c. Chestnut sells for half 

 the price of oak ; but has sometimes been sent into the king's 

 docks, and passed off instead of oak. WHITE. 



