SG ACER SACCHARINUM. 



reason, it is not much used in civil and naval architecture. In Maine, New 

 Hampshire, Vermont, and laitliiT north, where tlie oak is not picntilul, the tim- 

 ber ol" this tree is suhstitntcd lor it, in [jrcfcrence to that of the beech, the birch, 

 or the elm. Wlu'u perlc'tly s('ii.saju'd,,AVjlich retjuij-es two or three years, it is 

 used for axletrees. sjiokes, rniniers of connnon sleds, mill-cogs, and tor chairs, 

 and cabinet-work. It is also sometimes used for the frames of houses, keels, 

 and the lower frames of vessels, piles, and foundation pieces for mills, canal 

 locks, and for many other purposes \yhere strength is recpiired, and the work in 

 not exposed to the alternations of moistiu'e and dryness. The wood of this tree 

 exhibits several accidental forms in the arrangement of its fibre, of which cabi- 

 net-makers take advantage in manulactin-ing beautiful articles of furniture, such 

 as bedsteads, writing-desks, and other lancy works, and for inlaying maliogany 

 and black walnut, in bureaus, piano-fortes, etc. These forms or varieties may 

 be classified and described as follows : 



1. Curled Maple. Arable ffris onduU, French. The undulations or medul- 

 lary rays of this variety, like those of tlie red-flowered maple, are lustrous, and 

 in one light appear darker, and in another lighter than the rest of the wood. 

 Sometimes the zig-zag lines are crossed by beautifully coloured veins; but, 

 unlbrtunately, the lustre of these shades disappear by long exposure to light and 

 air. 



2. Bird's-eye Maple. Erahle moncheU^ French. This variety exhibits small 

 whitish spots or eyes, not exceeding a tenth of an inch m diameter, sometimes 

 occurring a little way apart, and at others contiguously disposed. The 

 more numerous these spots, the more beautiful and valuable the wood. They 

 are seen only in old trees, which are still sound, and appear to arise from an 

 inflection of the fibres from the centres of their trunks towards the surface across 

 the grain. To obtain the finest effect, the wood should be sawed as nearly as 

 possible in a direction parallel with the concentric circles. 



In addition to the above-named varieties, two other kinds occur in the icens^ or 

 excrescences which grow on the trunk or roots of this tree, and like them, are 

 covered with bark. The most valuable variety is known by the name of Yarie- 

 gated Maple-knob^ or Loupe d irable de coideurs varUes^ of the French. It pre- 

 sents an assemblage of shades, agreeably disposed, sometimes resembling Arabic 

 characters, which renders the wood very appropriate for fancy works, and from 

 its scarcity, it usually commands high prices. 'J'he other variety, known by the 

 name of ^dver-white Maple-knob^ or Loupe d'irable blanc argenii^ of the French, 

 exhibits a silvery lustre by the arrangement of its fibres, and is highly prized for 

 the same purposes as the preceding, although more common. 



The wood of this species is easily distinguished from that of the red-flowered 

 maple, which it resembles in appearance, by its weight and hardness. There 

 is besides, a very simple and certain test. A few drops of water saturated with 

 copperas, (sulphate of iron,) being poured upon samples of different Avoods, that 

 of the sugar maple turns greenish, and the white maple and the red-ffowered 

 maple change to a deep blue. The ashes of the sugar maple are rich in the 

 alkaline principle, and it has been asserted, that they furnish four-fifths of the 

 potash exported from the United States to Europe. In the forges of Maine, 

 New Hampshire, Vermont, and places farther north where this tree grows, its 

 charcoal is preferred to that of any other wood ; and it is said to be one fifth 

 heavier than that made from the same species in the middle and southern states. 



The extraction of sugar from this tree is a valuable resource in a new coun- 

 try where it abounds ; but it is obvious that this mode of obtaining sugar is only 

 destined for a certain stage in the progress of society, and eventually gives \vay 

 to the sugar of commerce, produced by cane. For this reason, we shall not 

 detail the process of its manufacture, as it cannot be regarded as a matter of 



