328 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



in circumferencQ^, whereas on Mount Caucasus it takes 

 the appearance of a large shrub ; as does the American 

 Plane in the gardens at St. Petersburgh. 



The Plane is highly esteemed for its beauty and shade. 

 It is said to have been brought from Asia first, for the 

 purpose of making a monument to Diomedes ; then to have 

 passed into Sicily, and from thence spread over Europe. 

 It was in great favour with the Romans ; they planted 

 it near their houses, and in long avenues to walk in, and 

 even nourished it with wine. Pliny remarks that there 

 is no tree whatsoever that so well defends us from the 

 heat of the sun, or that admits it more kindly in winter; 

 for the branches being at a distance proportionable to 

 the size of the leaves, when they have fallen, the branches 

 easily admit the rays of the sun. This observation, as 

 Martyn observes, holds good with all trees ; nevertheless 

 «ome trees more clothed than others will better shut 

 out the summer sun. Spenser describes a shady grove 



" IVhose lofty trees^ yclad with summer's pride. 

 Did spread so broad, they heaven's light did hide, 

 Nor perceable with power of any star." 



Whatever Pliny or Spenser may think upon this sub- 

 ject, Sannazaro pronounces it a want of courtesy entirely 

 to shut out the sun : 



" Ne sono le dette piante si discortesi, che del tutto 

 con le loro ombre vietino i raggi del sole entrare nel 

 dilettoso boschetto, anzi per diverse parti si gratiosa- 

 mente gh ricevono, che rara e quella herbetta, che da 

 quelli non prenda grandissima recreatione, e come che 

 d'ogni tempo piacevole estanza vi sia, ne la fiorita prima- 

 vero piu che in tutto il restante anno piacevolissima vi si 

 vitro V a.'" 



