418 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTiCETUM. 



PART III. 



presses ; and, sometimes, for gun-stocks. Formerlj', when wooden dishes and 

 spoons were more used than they are at present. It was much in demand, espe- 

 cially in Scotland, by the manufacturers of these articles. 



As underwood, the sycamore shoots freely from the stool to the age of 80 

 or 100 years. As a timber tree, it is most advantageously cut down at the age 

 of 80 years, or from that age to 100. In Germany, the tree which is com- 

 monly planted along with it, in plantations made with a view to profit, is the 

 beech. As an ornamental tree, it produces the best effect; either singh, in 

 groups of two or three, placed sufficiently near to form a whole, but not so as 

 to touch each other ; and in rows or avenues. The varieties with variegated 

 leaves are very ornamental in the beginning of summer ; but their leaves are 

 almost always more or less imperfect, especially on the edges, and fall off 

 much sooner in the autumn than those of the species. The leaves of the pur- 

 ple variety are not liable to the same objection as those of the variegated 

 sorts. 



In Scotland, children amuse themselves by cutting openings in the bark, and 

 sipping the sap that flows from its wounds {Mag. Nat. Hist.) ; and they also 

 play with the large buds which are found on the points of the shoots, which 

 they call cocks, and the small side-buds, which they call hens. In England, 

 children suck the wings of the growing keys, for the sake of obtaining the sweet 

 exudation that is upon them. 



Poetical and historical Allusions. The sycamore, in the language of flowers, 

 signifies curiosity, because it was supposed to be " the tree on which Zaccheus 

 climbed to see Christ pass on his way to Jerusalem, when the people strewed 

 leaves and branches of palm and other trees in his way, exclaiming, 'Hosanna 

 to the Son of David ! ' " (S^l. Flor., p. 221.) The tree called the sycamore 

 in the Bible, however, was not the ^i'cer Pseijdo-Platanus, but the J^icus 

 iSycomorus ; though the supposition that the first was the sycamore of the Scrip- 

 tures induced many religious persons, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, 

 to plant it near their houses and in their gardens. Evelyn mentions this prac- 

 tice, and condemns it; as the sycamore, from the irequency of honey-dew 

 on its leaves, is a very unwholesome and unsightly tree. It is mentioned by 

 Chaucer; and Cowper says, — 



" Nor unnoticed pass 



The sycamore, capricious in attire ; 



Now green, now tawny ; and ere autumn yet 



Has changed the woods, in scarlet honours bright." 



Soil and Situation. The common sycamore will grow in any soil not 

 saturated with moisture ; but it seems to prefer one that is dry and free, rather 

 than one stiff or moist. It will grow in exposed situations, and especially on 

 the sea coast, and maintain its erect position against the sea breeze better than 

 most other trees. It is in use for this purpose in Scotland, and also for plant- 

 ing round farm-houses and cottages on bleak hills. In such situations, an 

 instance can hardly be found of the head of the tree leaning more to one side 

 than another. Even when the wind blows strongly in one direction for nine 

 months in the year, this tree maintains its perpendicularity and symmetrical 

 form. 



Fi-opagalion and Culture. This species is invariably propagated by seed; and 

 the variegated-leaved and other varieties by layers, or by budding or grafting. 

 It will also propagate freely by cuttings of the roots. The seeds may either 

 be sown immediately after they are gathered, or they may be kept in sand till 

 the following spring. If the seeds are kept dry, and unmixed with sand or 

 earth till spring, they seldom come up the same year, and sometimes lose their 

 vegetative properties altogether. 



Accidents and Diseases. The leaves are attacked by various insects, and the 

 young shoots eaten by goats, hares, cattle, horses, and mules. In a suitable 

 soil, the tree is attacked by few diseases; but at great elevations, on unsuitable 

 soils, and especially on such as are wet, the superabundance of sap produces 

 hEemorrhage, and, according to M. Werneck, dropsy. In both these cases, the 



