THE WONDERS OF VEGETATION. 181 



The tree of the " Seven Brothers," in the forest 

 of Yillers-Cotterets is remarkable for its seven branch- 

 es, which have been so disposed as to sustain a floor 

 and gallery without injury to its foliage. 



Walnut-trees live to a great age and reach occa- 

 sionally gigantic proportions. One of the most mar- 

 vellous is to be seen at Balaklava, in the Crimea. It 

 produces each year 100,000 nuts, and is the property 

 of five families. 



The table of St. Nicholas, in Lorraine, mentioned 

 by De Candolle, gives one an idea of the size to which 

 these trees grow. This table is 24 feet wide and is 

 all in one piece. 



THE MAPLE OF MATIBO. 



This plant, the type of the " Lower trees " with 

 which the skilled horticulturist ornaments our gardens, 

 is especially remarkable for its architectural form. 

 This variety of the sycamore is not, in fact, a marvel 

 of vegetation ; and, strictly speaking, it is not on its 

 own merits to be classed among the extraordinary 

 plants which have already been described plants 

 which owe to nature alone this distinguishing feature. 

 It is to be seen in its perfection at Matibo, in the vi- 

 cinity of Savigliano, near Coni, in Piedmont. The 

 skill and perseverance of the horticultural architect 

 has made an astonishing metamorphosis of it. In its 

 cultivated state it appears like a structure of two sto- 

 ries. Each of these has eight windows naturally form- 

 ed and can contain twenty people. The flooring is 

 managed by a skilful arrangement of the branches, 



