4-16 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PART III. 



only (b) ; or else, when four were present, they were all proportionally smaller 

 than in those plants which bore two (fig. 111. c). This shows that the 

 multiplication of the cotyledons, in some plants, may be the result merely of a 



subdivision in the two 

 which belong to them in 

 their normal condition, 

 and that it may not have 

 originated in any super- 

 numerary developement 

 of these organs them- 

 selves. Their compar- 

 ative inequality, how- 

 ever, soon ceases as the 

 plant developes itself. 

 In one instance, I have 

 remarked a cohesion 

 taking place between the two cotyledons nearly throughout their whole length 

 (fig. 110. d); and then the young plant had strangely assumed the form 

 of a monocotyledon. Sometimes the superfluous division was continued to 

 the primordial leaves, of which there were one large, and two that were smaller 

 (fig- HI. e) : but I have never observed the anomaly extend beyond them ; 

 the next in succession, and all after them, being developed in pairs, in the usual 

 way. The above figures are selected from among several varieties which 1 

 possess of this anomalous germination of the sycamore." (Mag. Nat. Hist., 

 vol. v. p. 34<6, 347.) The growth of the sycamore is very rapid compared 

 with that of other trees, 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. M. Hartig has felled sycamore trees 200 years old, and upwards 

 of 100 ft. in height, the timber of which was perfectly sound. 



Geography. Found in various parts of Europe, particularly in Switzerland, 

 Germany, Austria, and Italy, in wooded mountainous situations. In England, 

 it is found in hedges and about houses, but not truly wild, according to Smith ; 

 though others consider it indigenous. Gerard, in 1597, says it is a stranger in 

 England, only found growing in the walks and places of pleasure of noblemen, 

 where it is planted for the sake of its shadow. Parkinson observes, " It is 

 cherished in our land only in orchards or elsewhere, for shade and walks." 

 Ray speaks of it as very common in courtyards, churchyards, avenues, and 

 about noblemen's houses ; but says it began, in his time, not to be much in 

 request, because of the great litter occasioned in gardens and walks by the 

 falling leaves. Martyn, in his edition of Miller's Dictionary, says that, if it were 

 truly indigenous, the country would have been full of it ; since the tree comes 

 up with such wonderful facility from the seed. For the same reason, Dr. 

 Walker supposes it to have been one of the very earliest of foreign trees intro- 

 duced into Scotland. Sir T. D. Lauder says, " It is a favourite Scotch tree, 

 having been much planted about old aristocratic residences in Scotland ; and, 

 if the doubt of its being a native of Britain be true, which, however, we can- 

 not believe, then it is probable that the long intimacy which subsisted between 

 France and Scotland may be the cause of its being so prevalent in the latter 

 country." (Lauder's Gilpin, i. p. 121.) In Switzerland, the tree is found 

 from 2000 ft. to 3000 ft. above the level of the sea, reaching up the mountains 

 to the point where Faccinium Fitis idse v a commences; provided, however, that 

 the soil be dry and of a good quality. In such situations it suffers much less 

 from frost and snow than many other trees. 



History. The first record of the tree, iih in cultivation in Britain, is in 



