240 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



in Dr. Harris's history of the county. It was twelve or 

 fourteen feet in girth. 



The original plantations of Vauxhall, and Mary-le- 

 bone Gardens, were chiefly of the sycamore. It is not 

 considered as remarkable for longevity ; Martyn men- 

 tions some in Cambridge, in a flourishing state at the 

 age of 185 years. 



In spring and autumn, this tree, if wounded, will pour 

 forth an abundance of saccharine juice from the stem, 

 from which may be made a good wine, and a tolerable 

 sugar. There are two varieties of it, one with broader 

 leaves, and one of which the leaves are variegated. 



Before earthen-ware came into use at the table, the 

 wood of this tree, which is soft and white, was in great 

 request for trenchers ; it is still used by the turners for 

 bowls, dishes, &c. by the saddlers for saddle-trees, and is 

 recommended by Evelyn as excellent for cart and plough 

 timber. 



The shade of the sycamore is admirable, even the sight 

 of it is cool and refreshing. The Maple bowls so often 

 mentioned by our poets, (and still used on some occasions, 

 even in London; as in the celebration of Lord Mayor's 

 Day, &c.) seem to be the off*spring of the Sycamore, or 

 Great Maple. The Maple- v/ood of the Romans was our 

 British Maple ; and from a passage in Virgil, Evelyn 

 assumes a right to insist upon the respectability of its 

 dimensions : 



Hsec ubi dicta, dapes jubet et sublata reponi 

 Pocula, gramineoque viros locat ipse sedili ; 

 Praecipuumque toro et villosi pelle leonis 

 Adcipit iEnearij solioque invitat acerno." 



Eneid viii. 



