224 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



climbed up to see our Saviour ride in triumph 

 to Jerusalem, which proved that it would 

 stand long without decaying ; and perhaps 

 this motive induced religious persons in this 

 country to plant it near their dwellings. 

 Evelyn condemns the practice of planting 

 sycamores in gardens. He says, in his Silva, 

 " It is much more in reputation for its shade 

 than it deserves ; for the honey dew leaves, 

 which fall early, like those of the ash, turn to 

 mucilage and noxious insects, and putrefy 

 with the first moisture of the season, so as 

 they contaminate and marr our walks ; and 

 are, therefore, by my consent, to be banished 

 from all curious gardens and avenues." Vaux- 

 hall and Marylebone gardens were originally 

 planted with sycamore-trees. 



The sycamore timber was much more in 

 request in the time of trenchers and wooden 

 bowls than at present ; for since the use of 

 earthenware has become so common with all 

 classes, the demand for this, and other soft 

 white woods, has greatly decreased. 



Like the birch tree, the sycamore gives out 

 great abundance of saccharine juice, when 

 tapped, either in the spring or autumn, from 

 which wine was formerly made in this coun- 

 try ; and Dr. Tongue tells us, in the Philo- 

 sophical Transactions, vol. iv., that the sap of 



