VARIETIES OF MAPLE. 93 



sycamore, but the plant is much more tender, and 

 requires a drier and more sheltered situation. 



The Norway Maple (A. platanoides). This is a 

 capital hardy tree, and when young grows very 

 rapidly, exceeding in its rate of progress that of the 

 sycamore, though it ultimately does not attain to the 

 large size of that tree. It thrives best in a deep well- 

 drained soil, producing foliage of fine form and 

 texture, bearing a glossy polish, which retains its 

 lively green throughout the summer. When autumn 

 approaches its leaves assume various tints, in which 

 yellow predominates. It is propagated in the same 

 way as the sycamore also. This species includes 

 several distinct varieties, foremost amongst which is 

 the Cut-leaved or Eagle's-claw maple, which is of 

 a highly ornamental description, readily propagated, 

 by grafts or buds, on the common sycamore stock. 



The Striped-barked or Snake-barked Maple (A. 

 striatum). This is a somewhat peculiar species, 

 though very ornamental at all seasons, the bark 

 being longitudinally marked with black and white 

 stripes. It is indigenous to North America, its 

 height being generally twenty to thirty feet. It is 

 mostly grafted on a stock of the common sycamore, 

 but sometimes is raised from imported seeds. 



The Large-leaved Maple (A. macrophyllum). This 

 is a hardy tree of rapid growth, which attains to a 

 great size, and is a native of North America. It was 

 only introduced into Britain in 1812, and is not yet 

 widely known or cultivated as a timber tree. Its 

 appearance is highly ornamental, and the timber is 

 handsomely veined, and valuable for cabinet-making 

 purposes. It is easily propagated by layers. 



