108 



THE SYCAMORE. 



now useless vegetable substance into ricli mould. 

 At all periods of its growth its leaves are liable to 

 be covered with a peculiar viscid substance, termed 

 honey-dew, the origin of which has by some been 

 attributed to insects, by others to the plant itself. 

 It is now, I believe, generally admitted that the 

 formation of this clammy sweet juice is to be as- 

 signed neither to the effect of disease in the plant, 

 nor to the agency of insects : but, like the manna 

 of the Ash and the gimi of the Cistus, is to be 

 considered as a natural exudation of the juices 

 of the plant ; what pui'pose it serves is, however, 

 unknown. It is the presence of this substance 

 which causes the unsightly appearance complained 

 of by Evelyn, greatly aggravated as it is in the 

 neighbourhood of inhabited houses by particles of 

 soot floating in the air which rest on the leaves, 

 and are detained there : as well as by the exuviae 

 of insects flocking to them for a repast.* A writer, 

 quoted by Loudon, says, that the bees are so fond 

 of the juice which exudes from the leaves of Acer 

 Platanoides, that it would be worth while to plant 

 the tree in the neighbourhood of places v\-here 

 hives are kept. 



Thus is it that Xature is her own handmaid. 

 The superfluous juices of the Sycamore are not 

 lost, but are deposited on the surface of the leaf 

 to afford a plentiful banquet to the tiny myriads 

 that wind their sultry horn'" around us. Xo- 

 thing is created in vain. AVe applaud the senti- 

 ment of the poet who sings of the flovrer that 



* When this honey-dew is very abundant, it is liable to drop on 

 any shrubs beneath (such as bos, holly. 6cc.). and to turn their leaves 

 black. The branches of such shrubs have been observed to be much 

 infested with lichens. 



