54 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



Ground cherry (Physalis). All the species of Physalis 

 have fleshy fruits notably i.vocarpa, Philadelphia, longifolia, 

 lanceolata, pumila, rotundata, and Fendleri. 



Japanese umbrella (Qwnicula lobata), greenish. 



Ground saracha (Chatnaesaracha coronopus), green. 



Wild potato (Solemn in Jamesii), green. 



Wild tomato (Solarium elaeagnifolium) , black. 



Wild pumpkin (Cncuibita foctidissima) , yellow. 



Musk root (Ado.va maschatellina) , green. 



MAPLE SUGAR 



TT 7HILE there are a number of species of maple tree 

 *^ whose sap is rich in saccharine material, the produc- 

 tion of maple syrup and sugar has been confined almost ex- 

 clusively to the sugar maple tree (Acer saccharum), also 

 known as the rock or hard maple. The early settlers either 

 boxed the tree or cut large slanting slashes from the lower end 

 of which rudely fashioned spouts conducted the sap to a bucket. 

 This method was very destructive to the trees and boring was 

 substituted for it. 



The trees should not be tapped until they are about 30 

 years old, as they will then withstand boring much better. 

 The trunks are tapped on the south or south-east side along 

 which sap first rises in spring. It is said that the largest flow- 

 can be obtained on the side bearing the most branches or over 

 the largest root. The richest sap is found nearest the bark, 

 the shallow borings supplying the whitest sugar. The first 

 tapping is made breast high and each year the hole is made 

 lower down, although this rule is not necessarily adhered to. 



The hole made is about three-eighths of an inch across. 

 It slants slightly upward and a metallic spout is driven into it 

 to which a bucket is attached. The old style was to have a 



