28 THE WOODLANDS 



The sap of this tree contains sugar, and experi- 

 ments have been made from time to time to obtain a 

 kind of sugar by evaporation. Sometimes an ounce 

 of sugar has been obtained from a quart of sap, but 

 the proportion varies. This sap has also been con- 

 verted into a kind of wine. In Scotland it is stated 

 that the children amuse themselves by cutting open- 

 ings in the bark, and sipping the sap that flows from 

 the wounds. 



The sycamore tree on which Zaccheus climbed to 

 see Christ pass on his way to Jerusalem was not this 

 tree, but the sycamore fig, which latter is the tree 

 intended in all Scriptural references to the " syca- 

 more." The bright autumnal tints which the leaves 

 rapidly assume are alluded to by Cowper in the 

 lines, 



" The sycamore, capricious in attire ; 

 Now green, now tawny , and ere autumn yet 

 Has changed the woods, in scarlet honours bright." 



The PLANE 1 is one of the most common trees in 

 the parks and open spaces in London and its neigh- 

 bourhood, and may easily be recognized in winter by 

 its habit of shelling off the outer coating of the bark. 

 The leaves somewhat resemble in form those of the 

 sycamore, but the foot-stalks are shorter. The glo- 

 bose catkins, pendulous on long stalks, which are for 

 some time persistent on the trees, are sufficient to dis- 

 tinguish the planes from the sycamore, or any of the 

 maples. This tree grows to the height of seventy 



Platanns orientalis. 



