THE SYCAMORE. Ill 
ha's somewhat hand-shaped leaves, in five divisions, notched at 
the edges, and downy underneath. 
This large and beautiful tree is much cultivated in 
America on account chiefly of the juice which it yields, 
and which is made into sugar. The process of obtain- 
ing the juice is, in the spring of the year, to bore holes 
about two inches deep into the tree, and to put into 
each of these holes a projecting spout, by which it may 
be conveyed into troughs placed to receive it. Each 
tree will afford from twenty to thirty gallons of juice, 
from which may be obtained five or six pounds of sugar. 
The juice is clear, of pleasant flavour; and, in its sim- 
ple state, is sometimes drunk as a remedy against the 
scurvy. The sugar, which is obtained from it by eva- 
poration, is clean to the eye, and very sweet, but it has 
a peculiar, though not unpleasant taste. It may be 
clarified and refined in the same manner as the common 
sugars. The juice of the maple furnishes also a plea- 
sant wine, and a very excellent vinegar. 
The wood of this tree is valuable as timber, and is 
also well adapted for turnery and cabinet ware, more 
particularly as it is said not to be liable to suffer by the 
depredations of insects. 
Possessing these properties, and being sufficiently 
hardy to sustain the rigours even of a cold climate, its 
culture, in our own country, would be attended with 
great advantage, and cannot be too strongly recom- 
mended. 
122. The SYCAMORE (Acer pseudoplatanus, Fig. 70) is 
a handsome tree of British growth, which has leaves in Jive lobes 
unequally serrated ; and green flowers in pendant clusters. 
It is peculiarly deserving of remark concerning this 
tree, that it grows better near the sea than in any other 
situation, and that plantations of sycamores may be so 
made as even to defend the herbage of the adjacent 
country from the spray, and consequently from the in- 
jurious effects of the sea. Its growth is quick, yet it 
will increase in size until it is two hundred years old. 
