XIM. ACERA‘CEE: 4‘CER. 87 
Seedling. In Hayne’s Dendrologische Flora there are, also, the following va- 
Tieties: A. P, stendptera, A. P. macréptera, and A. P, microptera, which ditter 
in the proportions of the wings of the keys, and do not appear worth farther 
notice. In all seed beds and young plantations some of the plants will be 
found with the petioles and the buds red, and others with the petioles and 
the buds greenish yellow: such trees, when of considerable size, are very 
distinct in their general aspect, when in bud, and when they have newly 
come into leaf; but after midsummer, when the leaves are fully matured 
and begin to get rusty, the trees are scarcely distinguishable. Different 
plants also differ much in the time of their coming into leaf, and of drop- 
ping their leaves ; and some of the more remarkable of these it might be 
worth while to propagate by extension. : 
132. A'cer Pseddo-Platanus. 
The growth of the common sycamore is very rapid compared with that of 
most other species of Acer, particularly when it is in a deep, free, rich soil, 
and in a mild climate. It arrives at its full growth in 50 or 60 years ; but it 
requires to be 80 or 100 years old before its wood arrives at perfection. In 
marshy soil, or in dry sand, and even on chalk, the tree never attains any size. 
It produces fertile seeds at the age of 20 years, but flowers several years 
sooner ; sometimes even perfecting its seeds sooner also. The longevity of 
the tree is from 140 to 200 years, though it has been known of a much greater 
age. The wood weighs per cubic foot, newly cut, 64 lb. ; half-dry, 56 Ib. ; 
dry, 48 lb. It loses, in drying, about a twelfth part of its bulk. When the 
tree is young, it is white; but, as the tree gets older, the wood becomes a little 
yellow, and often brown, especially towards the heart. It is compact and 
firm, without being very hard ; of a fine grain, sometimes veined, susceptible 
of a high polish, and easily worked, either on the bench, or in the turning- 
lathe. It does not warp, and is not likely to be attacked by worms. It is 
used in joinery and turnery, and cabinet-making ; by musical instrument 
makers ; for cider-presses ; and, sometimes, for gun-stocks. Formerly, when 
wooden dishes and spoons were more used than they are at present, it was 
much in demand, especially in Scotland, by the manufacturers of these articles. 
As underwood, the sycamore shoots freely from the stool, to the age of 80 or 
100 years. As a timber tree, it is most advantageously cut down at the age 
of 80 years, or from that age to 100. As an ornamental tree, it produces the 
best eifect, either singly, or in groups of two or three, placed sufficiently near 
to form a whole, but not so as to touch each other ; and in rows or avenues. 
The varieties with variegated leaves — very ornamental in the beginning of ° 
G 
