106 



THE SYCAMORE. 



respects^ it bears a near resemblance), leaving 

 patches of different hues, seams, and cracks, 

 which are often picturesque." 



According to Lauder, the Sycamore is a great 

 favourite in Scotland, and is much planted about 

 old aristocratic residences in that country. '^The 

 spring tints of the Sycamore," he says, are rich, 

 tender, glowing, and harmonious. In summer its 

 deep green hue well accords with its grand and 

 massive form : and the browns and dino'v reds of 

 its autumnal tints harmonize well with the other 

 colours of the mixed grove, to which they give a 

 fine depth of tone." 



Having thus endeavoured to enlist the preju- 

 dices of my readers in favour of the Sycamore, I 

 will proceed to describe it. 



The name Acer, given to it by the Romans, is 

 derived from Acer, acris, sharp or hard {ac, Cel- 

 tic, a point), on account of the hardness of the 

 wood, which was used for making spears and 

 other sharp-pointed instruments ; or, as some are 

 pleased to say, from acre ingenium, a ''sharp 

 wit,'' from its being so much in use by the most 

 ingenious artificers in fine works. Its specific 

 name, Pseudo-Pldtanus, means Mock-Plane, being 

 given to it in consequence of the resemblance 

 borne by its leaves to those of the Plane-tree. 

 The name Sycamore was given to it by the older 

 Botanists, who erroneously believed it to be 

 identical with the Sycamore,* or Mulberry-fig, of 

 Palestine, which it somewhat resembles in the 

 size and form of its leaves. 



No tree propagates itself more readily in this 



From syhe^ a fig, and moros, a mulberry ; being said to resemble 

 the mulberry-tree in the leaf, and the fig in its fruit. 



