FOREST TREES. 201 



It is not necessary in this description of the Maple to enter into 

 the process of sugar making, as many writers have described it.* 



It might naturally be supposed that by draining off so large a 

 portion of the juices of the tree, that the vital forces necessary for the 

 production of fruit and foliage would be greatly impaired, but the 

 deficiency is by no means perceptible : it would seem as though the tree 

 were endowed with additional strength to meet the emergency, and 

 repair the waste of the life supporting sap. It does not appear that 

 the leaf falls earlier from the tapped Maple trees, than from others that 

 have not been subjected to the same exhausting process, and no 

 perceptible failure of vigour can be observed ; still in the course of years 

 the energies of the tree may suffer, and its life be shortened, though 

 many an ancient Maple stands in the sugar-bush hoary with age, still 

 putting forth its coronal of leaves and its slender dooping pale flowers 

 and winged fruit, though bearing on its rifted bark, the unseemly scars 

 of yearly woundings from the settlers axe or auger. 



The Maple has a wide geographical range on the continent of 

 North America. It is found Southward in Virginia, Westward in 

 Wisconsin, and Eastward in the New England States ; while Northward 

 of the Great Lakes, even as far as Lake Superior, it forms one of the 

 grand features of our far-stretching forest-lands. While we consider its 

 many valuable qualities, we can scarcely wonder that the Maple has been 

 chosen as the emblem for the Dominion of Canada. 



The Maple tree and the Maple leaf, are seen in all our national 

 ornamental designs — and summing up all this tree's varied claims it 

 seems worthv of the honour bestowed upon it. 



In every country some favourite tree, shrub or flower has been 

 selected as a national emblem or as the heraldic crest. We may mention 

 a few from among many others. Thus we have the Rose, Thistle and 

 Shamrock, illustrative of the Union of England, Scotland and Ireland ; 

 long may the national garland remain entwined in our Royal escutcheon. 



The Oak is ever spoken of as the English tree, /at excellence. The 

 Finns sylvestris called Scotch Fir, of Scotland, the Pine of Norway, the 

 Olive of Spain, the Lime or Linden of Germany, the Laurel and the 

 Bay of Italy, the Palm of the East, the Lily of France, &c. While many 

 a Coat of Arms among the aristocracy of England, bears for its crest or 

 quartering, such simple emblems as a sprig of Heather, or Holly, or Yew, 

 of Olive, or Laurel, or Bay. Borne on the helmet, or in the cap, they 

 were the symbols by which the wearer, and possibly all his clan or 



NiiTK — An excellent jjractical account of the ]>rocess. from beginning to end, may be found in 

 Mai'iii' Strickland's book " Twentv-seven years in Canada," also in the " female Emigrants Guide ' 

 by 'Mrs. C. P. Traill. 



