Penfyfoania* Philadelphia. 49 



Carolina, vol. i. p. 56* t. 56* It grows for the 

 greateft part in low places, but efpecially on the 

 edge of rivers and brooks. But thefe trees are 

 eafily tranfplanted to more dry places, if they be 

 only filled with good foil ; and as their leaves are 

 large, and their foliage thick, they are planted 

 about the houfes and in gardens, to afford a plea- 

 fant (hade in the hot feafon. Some of the Swedes 

 had boxes, pails, and the like, made of the bark 

 of this tree by the native Americans. They fay 

 that thofe people, whilft they were yet fettled 

 here, made little difhes of this bark for gather- 

 ing whortleberries. This tree-likewife grows in 

 marflies, or in fwampy fields, where afli and 

 red maple commonly grow. They are frequently 

 as tall and thick as the bed of our fir trees. 

 The feed ftays on them till fpring, but in the 

 middle of April the pods open and (lied the feeds* 

 Query, Whether they are not ripe before that 

 time, and confequently iboner fit for fowing ? 

 This American maple is remarkable for its quick 

 growth, in which it exceeds all other trees. 

 There are fuch numbers of them on the low 

 meadows between Philadelphia and the ferry at 

 Gloucejler^ on both fides of the road, that in 

 fummer-time you go as it were through a fhady 

 walk. In that part of Philadelphia which is near 

 the Swedtfh church, fome great trees of this kind 

 ftand on the banks of the river. In the year 

 1750, on the J5th of May, I faw the buds {till 

 on them; and in the year 1749 they began to 

 flower on the eighth of that month. Several trees 

 of this fort .are planted at Cheljza, .near London, 

 L. I, E and 



