THE MAPLK. 



117 





Great Maple— Acer pseudo-platanus. 



very beautifully curled and mottled. In the latter 

 state, as it takes a tine polish, and bears varnishing 

 well, it is much used for certain parts of musical in- 

 struments. IMaple contains none of those hard par- 

 ticles which are injurious to tools, and is therefore 

 employed for cutting-boards ; and not being apt to 

 warp, either Avith variations of heat or of moisture, it 

 is an eligible material for saddle-trees, wooden dishes, 

 founders' patterns, and many other articles both of 

 furniture and of machinery. Before the general in- 

 troduction of pottei7 ware, it was the common mate- 

 rial for bowls and platters of all sorts ; and many are 

 still made of it. As the juice of the maple, both in 

 the leaves and in the tree, is s>>eet, it attracts num- 

 bers of insects. At certain seasons, the wild bees 

 and wasps may be seen about it in crowds ; and if 

 the timber be placed so that insects are allowed to 



