72 ACER. 



the Romans, in liis time, and lliat the wootl of some speeies was considered next 

 in vahu' to the eitron-wood. \[*' treated at h'ligtli npon the hnisra and mo/usca, 

 or knohs and excrescences of the maple, of wliicli, fnrnitnre and cabinet-work 

 of the most costly kind were made. 



General Rdiuirhs on Propa^dlion, Cvlhirc, ^'c. The maj)le tribe, in general, 

 prefer a tree, deep, loamy soil, rich rather than sterile, and neither wet nor very 

 dry. The sitnation that snits them best, is one that is sheltered and shady, 

 rather than exposed. They are seldom found on the north sides of lofty moun- 

 tains, or on mountains at all, except among other trees; but in the plains they 

 are found by themselves. They are chiefly propagated by seeds; l)Ut some 

 kinds are increased by layers, cuttings of the shoots, and roots, and by 

 budding, or grafting. The seeds of most of the species ripen in h^eptcmber or 

 October, and may be gathered by hand, or by shaking the tree, when the keys 

 begin to turn brown. The maturity of the seeds may be proved by opening the 

 keys, and observing whether the cotyledons are green, succulent, and fresh ; if 

 the green colour is wanting, they are good for nothing. The seeds of all the 

 species may be sown in autumn, or in the spring ; and the latter time is preferable 

 where moles or other vermin abound, which are liable to devour them. If sown 

 in spring, they come up in five or six weeks, with the exception of those of the 

 Acer campestre, which are said never to vegetate till the second or third year. 

 The seeds should not be covered with more than one fourth or one half of an 

 inch of soil, and the ground where they are sown may be advantageously shaded 

 with leaves, heath, or straw. 



