THE SYCAMORE. 



105 



spring from the base of the trunk, expand their 

 pink or crimson leaves very early in the season, 

 long before the tree has assumed its general foli- 

 age. In this stage they contrast beautifully with 

 the dark blue of the violet and the delicate yellow 

 of the primrose, and as a few sprigs may always 

 be found when these favourite flowers are in their 

 prime, they have invariably had a place in my 

 early spring nosegays. Another reason why I re- 

 gard it with peculiar good-will is, that several 

 trees of this species which I assisted to plant, at 

 a time when they were no larger than a walking- 

 cane, have now become stout, shady trees, though 

 not yet twenty years old. But besides this, with 

 its large and abundant leaves it forms a delightful 

 shady retreat during the summer months : in the 

 spring its graceful pendent clusters of flowers^ 

 diligently explored by bees and countless other 

 insects, are among the most interesting natural 

 objects of the season : w^hile in autumn its tassels 

 of winged seeds cannot fail to suggest pleasing 

 and instructive reflections on the wise superin- 

 tending Providence of the Almighty. 



Gilpin speaks of the Sycamore in a less con- 

 demnatory tone than Evelyn. The Great 

 Maple," he says, commonly called the Syca- 

 more, is a grander and nobler tree than the 

 smaller Maple ; but it wants its elegance : it is 

 coarse in proportion to its bulk. It forms, 

 however, an impenetrable shade, and often re- 

 ceives well contrasted masses of light. Its bark 

 has not the furrowed roughness of the Oak ; but 

 it has a species of roughness very picturesque. 

 In itself it is smooth ; but it peels off* in large 

 flakes, like the Planes (to which, in other 



