192 THE HOUSE CHESTNUT. 



purpose. The sugar is obtained by vaporization over hot 

 fires. When the buds begin to open into leaves and flowers, 

 the overflow of sap ceases. 



The Name of the Rock Maple, Acer saccharlnum, is 

 characteristic acer, sharp, vigorous, saccharum, sugar. 

 Other kinds, both native and foreign, inhabit our forests 

 and parks. (See Botanist and Florist, p. 74.) Among native 

 species, A. rubrum, the Red, or Swamp Maple, with early 

 crimson flowers and red-tinged leaves, will claim the learner's 

 attention ; also, A. dasycarpum, the White or Silver-leaved 

 Maple, with leaves silvery-white beneath. 



A. Pennsylvdnicum, is a small, graceful tree, 12 to 20 feet 

 high in northern forests, of many peculiar traits. Its leaves 

 are generally 3-lobed, and the flowers with 5 petals, in long 

 drooping racemes, are uncommonly showy. It is called 

 Striped Maple, because of the smooth bark colored green and 

 dark-brown in alternate longitudinal lines. It is the Moose- 

 wood in Maine, its bark and tender branches being the fa- 

 vorite winter food of the Moose ; and it also bears the name 

 of Whistlewood, from the facility with which the boys con- 

 vert its straight, smooth branches into musical instruments. 



Lll. THE HORSE CHESTNUT. 



Description. This splendid tree is a native of Northern 

 Asia, whence, by way of Constantinople, it emigrated to 

 Europe, and from Europe to America. Here it is extensively 

 planted for ornament and shade. It is noted for its rapid 

 growth, massive foliage, and symmetrical proportions ; but 

 rejected by artists as wanting the picturesque. 



Analysis. The Trtmfc is a straight, cylindric column, 

 with bark comparatively smooth, entire a third of its height, 



