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A DISCOURSE

C H A P. XIII.

The SYCAMORE \

I.The SYCAMORE, or WILD FIG-TREE, falsely so called, is ourAcer majus, or broad-leaved Mas, one of the' Maples, and is much morein reputation for its shade than it deserves; for the Honey-dew leaves,which fall early, like those of the Ash, turn to mucilage, producing noxiousinsects, and putrefy with the first moisture of the season, so as they con-taminate and mar our walks; and are therefore, by my consent, to bebanished from all curious gardens and avenues. It is raised of the keysin the husk, as soon as ripe, and they come up the first spring; alsoby roots and layers, in ground moist, not over wet or stiff, and must begoverned as other nursery plants.

2. There is in Germany a better sort of Sycamore than ours (nor areours indigenous) wherewith they make saddle-trees, and divers otherthings of use. Our own is excellent for trenchers, cart and ploughtimber/being light, tough, and not much inferior to Ash itself; andif the trees be very tall and handsome, they are the more tolerablefor distant walks, especially where other better trees prosper not sowell, or where a sudden shade is expected: Some commend them tothicken copses, especially in parks, as least apt to the spoil of deer, andthat It is good fire-wood. This tree being wounded, bleeds a great partof the year; the liquor emulating that of the Birch, which happeningto few of the rest, (that is, to bleed winter and summer,) I thereforemention: The sap is sweet and wholesome, and in a short time yieldssufficient quantity to brew with, so as when it is used, one bushel ofmalt will make as good ale, as four bushels with ordinary water, uponDr. Tongue ’s experience. Phil. Trans, vol. iv. fol. 917.

•This is the ACER (psevdo-tiataws) foliis quinquelobis inacqualiter scrratis, floribusracemosis. Lin. Sp. PI. 1495. It has already been described in the last chapter.