THE SYCAMORE, OR GREAT MAPLE. 



17 



unconquered by the blast. It is for these peculiar and en- 

 during- qualities, no doubt, that we see it so frequently, in 

 the north of England and Scotland, planted by itself, or 

 sometimes in company with the ash, around farm-houses 

 and cottages in high and exposed situations. But even 

 as a plantation tree, or where it is to act as a nurse to the 

 oak, we venture to recommend it in preference to some 

 other kinds very generally introduced, such as the wych, 

 or Scotch elm, and the ash, as from the nature of its 

 growth it is much less liable to injure the oaks by whip- 

 ping or overtopping them, than either of these trees. Be- 

 sides, a further inducement for admitting it into mixed 

 plantations is, the value of its wood, in the north of Eng- 

 land and Scotland, for machinery, and for the ends of 

 herring barrels, for which it is preferred to that of any 

 other by the coopers, and for which purpose it is fit as 

 soon as it has attained a diameter of four or five inches, 

 which it frequently does in favourable soil in the course 

 of twenty years. 



The wood is firm, of a close compact grain, susceptible 

 of a high polish, and easily worked ; it is not subject 

 to be worm-eaten, or to warp, and works well in the 

 turning-lathe. In England it has generally been applied 

 to minor purposes and in-door articles, such as cheese 

 and cyder presses, tables for common use, mangles, &c. ; 

 and when wooden dishes and spoons were in common 

 use, they were mostly made of this wood ; it is now, 

 however, extensively used, when of sufficient scantling, 

 for machinery, also in printing and bleaching works, 

 for beetling beams, and in cast-iron foundries for making 

 patterns, for all which purposes it brings a high price, vary- 

 ing from 2s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. per foot. Upon the Continent 

 it has always been in great request, and in France and 



c 



