CHAP. XXII. ACERA‘CEX. NEGU'NDO. 461 
Geography, §c. This tree is a native of the United States, and of Canada: 
in the latter country, it is abundant about the Red River, in N. lat. 54°, 
which is its most northern limit. It is seldom found in the northern states 
of the Union, or in the maritime parts of the southern states. It com- 
mences on the banks of the Delaware, in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, 
and increases towards the Alleghany Mountains, to the west of which it is 
most abundant; and, instead of being confined, as in the upper parts of Vir- 
ginia and of the Carolinas, to the river sides, it grows in the woods, with the 
locust (Robinia), wild cherry (Cérasus virginiana), and coffee tree (Gymné- 
cladus). But in the bottoms which skirt the rivers, where the soil is deep, 
fertile, constantly moist, and often inundated, this tree is most abundant, and 
attains the largest size. Even here, however, the tree seldom exceeds the 
height of 50 ft., with a trunk 20 in. in diameter; and trees of these dimen- 
sions, Michaux adds, are found only in Tenessee, and in the back parts of 
Georgia, which lie far to the south. In Kentucky, it seldom attains above 
half this height. 
History. This species was cultivated by Bishop Compton in 1688; and it 
was introduced into France by Admiral Gallisoniére, in the time of Du Hamel. 
As already observed, only the female plant of the species is in British gardens, 
though the male plant exists in the form of the variety NV. f crispum. Both 
male and female plants appear to be in cultivation in France ; because, accord- 
ing to Baudrillart, the Administration of Forests at Paris received a quantity 
of seeds from the neighbourhood of Lyons, from which a number of young 
plants were raised, and distributed through the national forests. The old tree 
of this species, in the garden at Fulham, planted by Bishop Compton in 1688, 
measured, in 1793, 6 ft. 4 in. ingirt at 3 ft. from the ground, and was computed 
to be 45 ft high. In 1809, it measured 7 ft. 14 in. in girt; and in 1835, as 
appears in p. 43., the dimensions are scarcely varied. The tree, from the 
rapidity of its growth, its showy appearance, the fine green of its shoots, 
its large pinnate leaves (which move with the slightest breeze) and spreading 
head, and its faculty of growing in almost any kind of soil, is a general fa- 
vourite, and is to be found in most collections. 
Properties, Uses, §c. The wood of this tree has a fine even grain, and is 
saffron-coloured, slightly mixed with violet, but it is rather tender; the pro- 
portion of the soft wood to the heart-wood is so great, that it has never been 
used for any purpose in America except for that of fuel: in Europe, it is 
used for cabinet-making, particularly for inlaying ; it works well, and is elastic 
and sonorous. According to some, sugar has been extracted from the sap ; 
but Michaux denies this to be the case. He suggests that, from its rapid 
growth, after being cut down to the ground, it might form a valuable underwood, 
to be cut every 3 or 4 years, for fuel, charcoal, or other purposes. It has been 
tried in this way in France; but, unless the soil be kept constantly humid, the 
stool is found to decay in a very few years. Baudillart considers it the least 
useful of all the tree maples. In England, it is solely to be considered as an 
ornamental tree; and, as we have before observed, it is one of considerable 
show ; and, being also one of rapid growth, it well merits the attention of 
planters, in situations where immediate effect is an object. 
Soil, Situation, §c. The same soil and situation which suit the A‘cer will 
answer for the Negiéndo. The plant grows with amazing rapidity, when the 
soil is deep and somewhat moist ; but, as it is not a long-lived tree, it should 
not be placed in situations where the permanent effect of wood is of import- 
ance. When raised from seed, it should always, if possible, be sown in the 
autumn, as soon as practicable after gathering, as it keeps with difficulty till 
the spring, even when mixed with sand. 
Statistics. In the environs of London, the oldest tree is that already mentioned at the Bishop of 
London’s ; and the largest one, at Kenwood, 35 years planted, and 47 ft. high. There are trees at Syon, 
at Kew, and at Purser’s Cross, above 40 ft. high; in Buckinghamshire, at Temple House, 40 years 
lanted, and 40 ft high; in Yorkshire, at Grimston, 10 years planted, and 30 ft. high. In Wales, in 
embrokeshire, at Golden Grove, 30 years planted, and 25ft. high. In Scotland, in the Glasgow 
Botanic Garden, 14 years planted, and 14 ft. high. In Ireland, in Galway, at Coole, 39 ft. high. In 
France, Michaux informs us, a row of these trees was planted in the Jardin des Plantes, in the Rue 
