SUGAR MAPLE. 103 



central America, and derives its botanical name 

 from Pietro Crescendo, who most probably first 

 introduced it into Europe. This valuable tree bears a 

 beautifully- variegated flower of red and yellow. The 

 oval or bottle-shaped fruit encloses a thin and almost 

 woody shell, which, when stripped of its external 

 skin, and emptied of its juice, is used for various do- 

 mestic purposes, such as water-cans and goblets, 

 coffee-cups and spoons, and even for kettles to boil 

 water in; the shell being so hard and close-grained 

 as to bear the fire several times without injury. 

 It is occasionally highly polished, and engraved 

 and tinged with indigo and various colours. Ruther- 

 ford informs us that the calabash is the only vessel 

 possessed by the natives of New Zealand, and that 

 the pulp which it contains is esteemed a valuable 

 remedy in several external and internal disorders. 



Another instance may be adduced of remark- 

 able assignment to certain districts, in the Sugar 

 Maple, the Acer saccharmum of Linnaeus, which 

 grows profusely in all the western countries of 

 the middle states of the American Union. Few 

 trees are more pleasing to the sight. They are 

 generally seen in company with the Beech and Hem- 

 lock, the White and Water Ash, the Cucumber and 

 Linden, the Aspen, Butter-nut, and Wild Cherry- 

 trees, though found occasionally in noble groups 

 extending over several acres. Beautiful they are; 

 no blossoming tree can vie with them, for they rise 

 high and put forth their pure white blossoms in the 

 spring before they show a single leaf. They stand 

 like beacons in the forest, indicating the richest 

 soil and abundance of fresh water. Even the 



