Chap. 26.] VARIETIES OP THE MAPLE. 367 



■wood of this tree is proof against the attacks of worms : 80 it is 

 of moderate height 81 only, but of very considerable utility. 



CHAP. 26. (15.) TEN VARIETIES OP THE MAPLE. 



The maple, which is pretty nearly of the same 82 size as the 

 lime, is inferior to the citrus 83 only for the beauty of its wood 

 when employed for cabinet work, and the exquisite finish it 

 admits of. There are numerous varieties 84 of this tree; the 

 light maple, remarkable for the extreme whiteness of its wood, 

 is known as the " Gallic" &5 maple in Italy beyond the Padus, 

 being a native of the countries beyond the Alps. Another 

 kind is covered with wavy spots running in all directions. 

 In consequence of its superior beauty it has received its name, 86 

 from its strong resemblance to the marks which are seen in 

 the tail of the peacock ; the finest kinds are those which grow 

 in Istria and Rhsetia. An inferior sort of maple is known as 

 " crassivenium." 87 



The Greeks distinguish the varieties according to their re- 

 spective localities. The maple of the plains, S8 they say, is 

 •white, and not w r avy; they give it the name of " glinon." 

 On the other hand, the mountain maple, 89 they say, is of a 

 more variegated appearance, and harder, the wood of the male 

 tree being more particularly so, and the best adapted for spe- 



80 « Teredo." If he means under this name to include the tinea as 

 well, the assertion is far too general, as this wood is eaten away by insects, 

 though more slowly than the majority of the non-resinous woods. It is 

 sometimes perforated quite through by the larvse of the byrrhus, our death- 

 watch. 



81 This is incorrect. It attains a very considerable height, and some- 

 times an enormous size. The trunk is known to grow to as much as forty 

 or fifty feet in circumference. 



82 The maple is much less in size than what the lime or linden really is. 



83 See B. xiii. c. 29. 



84 Fee says there are but five varieties of the maple known in France. 

 He doubts whether the common maple, the Acer campestre of Linnaeus, 

 was known to the ancients. 



85 Fee identifies it with the Acer pseudo-platanus of Linnaeus, the Acer 

 montanum candidurn of C. Bauhin. This tree is not uncommon in Italy. 



86 " Acer pavonaceum :" " peacock maple." He gives a similar account 

 of the spots on the wood of the citrus, B. xiii. c. 19. 



87 Or " thick-veined " maple. 



83 Supposed by Fee to be the Acer Monspessulanus of Linnaeus, also the 

 Acer trilobum of Linnaeus. 



M A variety of the Acer pseudo-platanus of Linnaeus, according to Fee. 



