This wood is rather common in the South of England. It is little used, though durable in exposure to weather.

The annual ring is not very distinguishable, and though the medullary rays are rather large, they are not greatly different in colour to the remainder of the wood.

It is cheap, and as the fibres are close and the wood will stand hard blows, it is used for some descriptions of tools.

Nail holes made into it soon close up when the nails are withdrawn.

The wood is never beautiful, and is not used for ornamental purposes. When old it is brittle and useless for any purpose.

Sycamore (Acer pseudo-platanus) is a common English tree, and is frequently miscalled the plane tree. The timber is, however, very different in appearance.

It is white or a light yellow colour, which deepens with increasing age, till it is sometimes of a brownish hue at the heart.

The medullary rays are fine, distinct, and very numerous, causing a pretty dappled effect on the surface of boards.

The sap-wood is of a very pale green tint, and it is often difficult to distinguish its limits.

The timber is even in texture, free from knots and shakes, hard, and capable of receiving very accurate finish.

It is brittle, and much attacked by worms.

Sycamore is used extensively in cabinet-making, for furniture and other ornamental work, and, as it works up so clean, is much used for turnery.

This wood can be dyed, and will retain its new colour very well; it is therefore used by marquetry-cutters and others, who require contrasting colours.