FOREST TREES. 197 



The most stately and beautiful tree in this genus, is the 

 Sugar Maple, -This tree enters largely into the forests of 

 the northern States, and grows no where in greater abun- 

 dance than between the latitudes of 46 and 43, which 

 embrace Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Vermont, 

 New Hampshire and Maine. In some parts of New York 

 and Pennsylvania, it is also common and abundant. It 

 was estimated by Dr Rush, that in the northern parts of 

 these two states, there were ten millions of acres contain- 

 ing the sugar maple, at the rate of thirty trees to an acre. 

 In Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and Mississippi, it is 

 seldom if ever found. 



The sugar maple occupies a more extensive range of 

 American territory, than any other species of this genus. 

 It flourishes best on elevated, and even mountainous situ- 

 ations, and in moist soils, and is often found in company 

 with beach, ash and birch. 



This tree often rises to the height of seventy or eighty 

 feet, though more commonly to fifty or sixty. The great 

 height, extended branches, regular form, rich verdure, 

 and neat appearance of the leaves, render it a most beau- 

 tiful shade tree, and it well deserves to line the sides of 

 all our streets throughout the Union. 



The wood when first cut, is white, but by exposure for 

 a short time, takes a rosy tinge. The grain is fine and 

 close, and when polished, has a silky lustre. It is strong 

 and heavy, but not durable when exposed to the weather. 

 In Vermont. New Hampshire and Maine, where oak and 

 chesnut are not common, tnaple timber is used in their 

 stead, as it is more durable than beech, elm or birch. It 

 is much used by cabinet and chair-makers, and to some 

 extent by wheelwrights, for axletrees, spokes, lining the 

 runners of sleds, &.c. The sugar maple timber is also 

 sometimes used for the frames of houses, 'keels and lower 

 frames of ships, and many other purposes which do not 

 expose it to sudden decay by alternate moistening and 

 drying. 



Two accidental forms are found in some specimens of 

 the sugar maple, which are much valued and sought for 

 by cabinet-makers, as they give beauty to their work. 

 The first is an undulating form in the grain of the wood, 



VOL.I. NO. VHI. 18 



