THE SYCAMORE. 



115 



the ground. A tree of ordinary size yields from 

 fifteen to thirty gallons of sap, from which are 

 made from two to four pounds of sugar. The 

 tree is not at all injured by the operation, but 

 continues to flourish, after having been annually 

 tapped for forty years without intermission. The 

 produce is consumed principally in the neighbour- 

 hood of the place where it is manufactured;* 

 the sugar from the cane being preferred whenever 

 it can be readily procured. 



Our Sycamore is not sufficiently productive of 

 sugar to be ever employed in this way, even if the 

 manufacture were legalized; but it is by no means 

 a worthless tree. Its wood was much used for 

 making platters before earthenware plates were 

 generally introduced, and in rural districts is still 

 applied to the same purpose. When the tree is 

 young the wood is white, but acquires a yellow 

 or brown hue as it increases in age. It is close- 

 grained, but not hard, and does not readily w^arp, 

 and, being easily worked either by the hand or 

 lathe, was formerly held in high estimation for the 

 purpose above-mentioned. It is sought by the 

 joiner and cabinet maker, and is also used for 

 making musical instruments and cider-screws. 

 It forms also a very valuable fuel, burning slowly 

 and giving out a great deal of heat. Not only 

 on account of its uses in the arts and manufac- 

 tures, and its dense fohage in summer, was its 

 growth encouraged; but it was planted in the 

 vicinity of houses, from the supposition that it 

 was the Sycamore of Scripture ; this however is 

 not the case, the tree into which Zacchasus 



* It is, however, stated that ten millions of pounds are annually 

 imported into the United States. 



