DENDROLOGY. 105 



the immense valleys, through which flow the great rivers of the 

 west, where it is one of the most common and one of the loftiest 

 trees. The soil in which it best flourishes is a rich, strong, sandy 

 loam. 



It usually grows to the height of 40 or 50 feet with a diameter 

 of 15 or 20 inches. When the tree stands alone, it naturally 

 assumes a regular and agreeable shape. Its leaves are 4 or 5 

 inches long, and exhibit, in every respect, nearly the same 

 conformation as those of the true sugar maple. They differ 

 from them, principally, in being of a deeper green and of a 

 thicker texture, and in having more open sinuses : they are also 

 slightly downy, which is most sensibly perceptible on the main 

 rib. It puts forth flowers of a greenish color in April or May, 

 which, like those of the sugar maple, are suspended by long, 

 flexible peduncles : the seeds, also, are similar, and are ripe 

 about the same time, that is, about the first of October. 



The wood is much like that of the sugar maple, but coarser 

 grained, and less brilliant when polished. It is little used in the 

 arts, because wherever it abounds, other trees jare found more 

 useful. It is considered after the hickories as the best of fuel. 

 Its most important use is for making sugar, which is made in the 

 same manner as that of the other species. 



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