236 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



the Levant. Mr. Miller cultivated it in 175S. The 

 tree which he describes as an evergreen Maple is supposed 

 to be a variety of this. 



The Norway Maple, Acer platanoides, grows to a large 

 size ; the leaves are of a shining green, about the size of 

 those of the Sycamore, and it sometimes makes a hand- 

 somer appearance than that tree, owing to a sharp juice 

 with which it abounds ; which, being disliked by insects, 

 prevents their eating or destroying the leaves as they do 

 the sycamore leaves. The flowers, which are of a fine 

 yellow colour, add to the beauty of the tree in spring ; 

 in summer it forms an admirable shade, and in the 

 autumn the leaves, then of a golden yellow, make a 

 beautiful and conspicuous figure among the rich variety 

 of hues peculiar to that season. 



Linnaeus recommends this tree as yielding a sap from 

 which sugar may be made, and as affording a white, 

 smooth wood for gun stocks, &c. It is a quick grower. 

 There is a variety with variegated leaves ; but the principal 

 variety is that which is called the Cut-leaved Maple, of 

 which the leaves are deeply jagged. 



The Norway Maple was cultivated in England in 

 1724. In France this tree is called Platane, or Faux 

 Sycamore ; as they call the sycamore Sycomore^ or Faux 

 Platane. 



The Common Maple, Acer campestre, though it does 

 not become a large tree, " yet,"" says Mr. Martyn, " it 

 should not have been degraded by Linnaeus to a shrub.'' 

 Evelyn says, that by shredding up the boughs to a head, 

 he has caused it to shoot to a wonderful height in a little 

 time. This Maple is chiefly seen in hedge-rows and 

 coppices. 



The wood of this tree was highly valued by the an- 



