190 VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



ter are commonly cultivated in Vermont, including four trees, the common 

 locust, the clammy locust, the honey locust and the coffeetree. 



The common locust {Robinia Pseudacacia Linn.) is a native of Pennsyl- 

 vania and the more southern states. It has been widely planted in Ver- 

 mont and has frequently run wild along fence-rows and about yards. The 

 profusion of the fragrant white blossoms, the delicacy of the foliage and the 

 picturesque form of the tree combine to make it very attractive. This locust 

 is a large, rapidly growing tree. It makes the best of fence posts and it is 

 said that it can be grown with profit for that purpose in this state. 



The clammy locust (Robinia viscosa Vent.) is a smaller tree which is 

 sometimes planted for shade or ornament and tends to spread. It is easily 

 distinguished by the fact that its twigs and leaf-stalks are clammy or sticky 

 to the touch. 



The honey locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos Linn. ) is occasionally planted. 

 It is conspicuous because of its long pods, (one foot or more) and its much 

 branched thorns. The leaves are doubly compound. 



The Kentucky coffeetree ( Gymnocladus Canadensis Lam. ) is also occa- 

 sionally planted. The leaves are doubly compound and two or three feet 

 long. The pods are five to ten inches long and one to two inches broad. 



MAPLE FAMILY 



MAPLES. 



The maple family is a large one including nearly seventy species. Ten 

 of these occur in the United States, and seven are found in Vermont. In 

 many respects they form the most characteristic feature of our forest flora, 

 and were we to select a state tree, popular choice would certainly be unani- 

 mous for the sugar maple. 



The maples are easily distinguished from all other trees by their peculiar 

 winged or " key " fruit. The leaves of all except the ash-leaved maple are 

 also so similar as to form a good family character. 



Two of the seven native species are as frequently shrubby as they are tree- 

 like in both size and habit of growth, but all are included in this discussion. 

 By appealing to the size of the tree and characters of the leaves it is possible 

 to distinguish the species as follows : 



Large trees. 



Leaves compound (3-7 leaflets, resembling the ash.) Boxelder 



Leaves simple, with 3-5 prominent divisions or lobes 



Leaves with terminal lobe more than % length of midrib Silver Maple 



Leaves with terminal lobes l / 2 or less than y 2 length of midrib. 



Bottom of sinuses (i. e. larger notches or indentations) acute, lobes 



sharply toothed Red Maple 



Bottom of sinuses rounded, lobes with few or no teeth. 



