4.24 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 
with the bright green above; and the alternate reflection of the two surfaces 
in the water heightens the beauty of this wonderful moving mirror, and aids in 
forming an enchanting picture ; “which,” says “ Michaux, during my long excur- 
sions in a canoe in these regions of solitude and silence, I contemplated with 
unwearied admiration. Beginning at Pittsburg, and even some miles above 
the junction of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers, white maples, with 
trunks 12ft. or 15ft. in circumference, are continually to be met with at 
short distances.” (Michx, p. 213, 214.) 
History. 'Vhis tree was introduced by Sir Charles Wager, in 1725, and 
has since been in general cultivation. It was at first supposed to be a variety 
of A. rubrum; and, as such, is mentioned in Martyn’s Miller. In the first 
edition of Du Hamel, the two sorts are described as distinct varieties ; and 
their specific distinctions were afterwards pointed out by Desfontaines, in the 
Ann. du Mus. d’ Hist. Nat. de Paris, vol. vii. p.412.; the principal distinction 
consisting in the fruit of 4. eriocarpum being woolly, and that of A. rubrum 
being smooth. Both species are now in very general cultivation, throughout 
Europe, as ornamental trees. 
Properties and Uses. In America, wooden bowls are sometimes made of 
the wood of this species, when that of the tulip tree cannot be procured. 
At Pittsburg, and in the neighbouring towns, it is used, in cabinet-making, 
instead of holly, and for inlaying furniture made of mahogany, cherry tree, 
and walnut; though it is not exactly suitable for this purpose, as it soon 
changes colour. The hatters of Pittsburg prefer the charcoal of this wood 
to every other for heating their boilers, as it affords a more uniform and du- 
rable heat than any other. Sugar is made from this species in districts where 
the tree abounds, but the produce is not above half that obtained from the sap 
of the sugar maple. The sap is in motion very early in this species, beginning 
to ascend about the 15th of January; so that, when sugar is made from it, the 
work of extracting it is sooner completed. The cellular integument rapidly 
produces a black precipitate with sulphate of iron. (Michaux.) In Europe, 
this tree is chiefly planted for ornamental purposes, for which it is admirably 
adapted by the rapidity of its growth, the graceful divergent direction of its 
branches, the beauty of its leaves, and the profusion of its early flowers. 
In mild seasons, such as the present spring of 1836, these flowers begin to 
burst from their buds in the first week in January; and they are often fully 
expanded by the end of February or beginning of March. 
Soil, Situation, Propagation, §c. A. eriocarpum requires a deep free soil, 
and more moisture than most of the other species. Though it will not grow 
in swamps, yet it attains its greatest dimensions on the alluvial banks of 
rivers which are occasionally inundated. It ripens its seeds, both in America 
and Britain, by midsummer, or earlier; and, if these are immediately sown, 
they come up, and produce plants which are 8 in. or 10 in. high, by the suc- 
ceeding autumn. 
Statistics. The largest tree in the neighbourhood of London is at Kew, where, in 25 years, it has 
attained the height of 50 ft. ; in Staffordshire, at Trentham, it is also 50 ft. high. Price of plants, in 
London, 1s. 6d. each ; at Bollwyller, 1 franc; at New York, 25 cents, and seeds 1 dollar per quart. ~ 
¥ 16. A.ru‘Brum L. The red-flowering, or scarlet, Maple. 
Identification. Lin. Spec. 1496.; Hayne Dend., p. 215. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 595. ; Don’s Mill., 1. p. 650, 
Synonymes. A. virginianum Herm. Par., t.1., Mil. Iil.,t.8. f.4., Trew. Sed., t. 85, 86.; A. coc- 
cineum AZt.; soft Maple, Swamp Maple, red Maple; E‘rable rouge, Fr. ; rother Ahorn, Ger. 
Engravings. Michx. Arb., 2. t. 14.; Desf. Ann. Mus., 7. p. 413. t.25.; Tratt. Arch., 1. No. 9.; 
Schmidt. Arb., 1. t. 6.; Krause, t. 119.; our jig. 130. in p. 457.; and the plate of the tree in our 
Second Volume. 
Spec. Char., §c. Leaves cordate at the base, glaucous beneath, deeply and 
unequally toothed, palmately 5-lobed, with acute recesses. Flowers con- 
glomerate, 5-petaled, pentandrous. Ovaries smooth. (Don’s Mill., 1. 
p- 650.) A tree of the middle size, from North America in 1656, remark- 
able for its red flowers, which are produced in April and May. 
Varieties. 
¥ A.r.2coccineum and ¥ A. 7.3 intermédium are varieties of this species, 
