426 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III, 
virginianum flére majore. Miller, in 1741, says, the Virginian flowering 
maple (A. ribrum) was raised from seeds, which were brought from Virginia 
many years since, by Mr. John Tradescant, in his garden at South Lambeth, 
near Vauxhall ; and, since, in the garden of the Bishop of London at Fulham, 
where it has flowered for several years, and produced ripe seeds, from which 
several plants have been raised. Upon a survey of the state of the garden at 
Fulham, in October 1793, the A‘cer rubrum planted by Bishop Compton, at 
3 ft. from the ground, measured, in girt, 4 ft. 3 in., and its computed height 
was 40 ft. On visiting the same gardens again in 1809, the tree was gone. 
(Lyson’s Env. London, 1810, 2d edit. vol. ii. p. 228.) Miller, in 1755, speak- 
ing of A. eriocarpum, says, this the gardeners distinguish by the title of Sir 
Charles Wager’s maple; the other being called the scarlet-flowering maple; 
but, as there is no difference in [the form of ] their flowers, seeds, or leaves, so 
they must be deemed but one species, as they are only accidental varieties 
arising from seed. In continuation, he says, speaking of the scarlet variety, 
that it flowers about the middle of April, and that Sir Charles Wager’s maple 
flowers about the middle or latter end of March. In Martyn’s Miller, pub- 
lished in 1807, the two are still considered as the same species. We have no 
doubt of their being in fact only varieties, or races, of the same species ; but 
we have kept them distinct, as they are remarkably different, both in the co- 
lour of their flowers, and in their habit of growth, though not much so in their 
leaves. Michaux was the first to distinguish the two kinds as species, and the 
distinction (as before observed, p. 424.) was first pointed out in detail by Des- 
fontaines. As A.ribrum is not a rapidly growing tree, like A. eriocarpum, it 
has not been so extensively cultivated as that species ; nevertheless, it is to be 
found in most collections, and it is propagated in the principal European 
nurseries. 
Properties and Uses. In America, the wood of the red-flowering maple is 
applicable to several uses. It is harder than that of the white maple, and of 
a finer and closer grain; hence it is easily wrought in the lathe, and acquires, 
by polishing, a glossy and silken surface. It is solid, and, for many purposes, 
it is preferred by workmen to other kinds of wood. It is principally employed 
for the seats of Windsor chairs : the pieces are prepared in the country; and so 
considerable is the demand, that boats laden with them frequently arrive at 
New York and Philadelphia, where an extensive manufactory is carried on for 
the consumption of the neighbouring towns, and for exportation to the south- 
ern states and to the West India Islands. The whole frame of japanned chairs 
is made of this wood, except the back, for which hickory (Carya) is chosen, 
on account of its superior strength and elasticity. The frame, the nave, and 
the spokes of spinning-wheels are made of thered maple. At Philadelphia, it is 
exclusively used for saddle-trees; and, in the country, it is preferred for yokes, 
shovels, and wooden dishes, which are brought to market by the country peo- 
ple, and purchased by the dealers in wooden ware. It sometimes happens 
that, in yery old trees, the grain, instead of following a perpendicular direction, 
is undulated ; and this variety bears the name of the curled maple. This sin- 
gular arrangement is never found in young trees, nor in the branches of even 
such as exhibit it in the trunk: it is also less conspicuous in the centre than 
near the circumference. Trees having this character of wood are rare, and do 
not exist in the proportion of one to a hundred. The serpentine direction of 
the fibre, which renders them difficult to split and to work, produces, in the 
hands of a skilful mechanic, the most beautiful effects of light and shade, 
These effects are rendered more striking, if, after smoothing the surface of the 
wood with a double-ironed plane, it is rubbed with a little sulphuric acid, and 
afterwards anointed with linseed oil. On examining it attentively, the varying 
shades are found to be owing entirely to the inflection of the rays of light ; 
which is more sensibly perceived in viewing it in different directions by candle- 
light. Before mahogany became generally fashionable in the United States, 
the best furniture in use was made of the red-flowering maple, and bedsteads 
are still made of it, which, in richness and lustre, exceed the finest mahogany. 
