Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Plane-Tree

PLANE-TREE, or Platanus, L. a genus of trees, comprising two species, viz.

1. The orientalis, or Eastern Plane-tree, which is a native of Asia, and the Levant, where it attains a stupendous height, so that it is usefully employed in ship-building.

2. The occidentalis, or Western Plane-tree, which is indigenous in Virginia, and other parts of North America, where it grows to an uncommon size; instances having occurred, of trees measuring eight or nine yards in circumference; and which, when felled, produced twenty loads of wood.

Both these species are highly esteemed for their beautiful and majestic appearance: and, though their leaves decay early in autumn, they are industriously cultivated in their native countries, especially along public walks, and other places of resort, on account of their agreeable, cooling shade.—The plane-tree is very hardy, aqd will flourish in any common soil or exposure: it may be easily propagated by seed, cuttings, or layers, which should be committed to the ground in autumn. For this purpose, the soil ought to be somewhat moist, and in a shady situation; it should be formed into beds about four feet in width, which must be well dug and raked for the reception of the seed, cuttings, &c. These should be placed four inches apart: in the succeeding spring, the young plants will appear; and, at the end of one or two years, they may be removed into nurseries, where they are to remain, till of a sufficient size to be finally transplanted.

This deciduous tree, particularly the American species, grows rapidly, and is one of the greatest ornaments of modern plantations: its wood is excellent for various articles of domestic furniture, especially for tables; because, at a certain age, it abounds with veins, and when rubbed with oil, surpasses in beauty that obtained from the finest walnut-tree.—The dry leaves and branches of the Western Plane-tree, according to Dambourney's experiments, afforded a decoction of a very bright red-brown tint; which, on adding different ingredients, either assumed various shades, or remained unaltered; so that they may with advantage be employed in dyeing.