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roar of ocean, and defending all shrubs, and herbage, and 

 lesser trees, from the winds and the salt spray. 



My history is somewhat brief, yet it breathes of peace, 

 associated with useful arts and details of husbandry. In 

 spring my bloom is beautiful and fragrant j bees come from 

 all parts to revel in my sweets, and happy is the cottager 

 who has a plantation of sycamores beside his bee-garden. 

 If planted judiciously, we serve also to keep off the wind ; for 

 our branches form a dense mass of foliage, and look well 

 in the distance, presenting, ofttimes, strong contrasts of 

 light and shade, when the sun throws a bright gleam across 

 our growing-place, and some dark mass of rock is in deep 

 shadow. My bark has not the furrowed roughness of the 

 oak, but is extremely picturesque, smooth, yet peeling off 

 in large flakes, and leaving patches of different hues, and 

 seams and cracks, which the artist readily transfers to his 

 canvas. In spring the delicate hue of my luxuriant 

 foliage beautifully harmonizes with green meadows, my 

 frequent habitat ; and beneath my shade both sheep and 



