484 OBSERVATIONS ON 



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. 



GALLS OP 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. 



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 

 shakey, and towards the heart cup-shakey (that is to 

 say, apt to separate in round pieces like cups), so that 

 the inward parts are of no use. They were 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. 



LIME BLOSSOMS. 



DR. CHANDLER tells, that in the south of France, an 

 infusion of the blossoms of the lime-tree ( Tilia) is in 

 much esteem as a remedy for coughs, hoarsenesses, 



