72 
ACER. 
the Romans, in his time, and that the wood of some species was considered next 
in value to the citron-wood. He treated at length upon the bnisca and molusca, 
or knobs and excrescences of the maple, of which, furniture and cabinet-work 
of the most costly kind were made. 
General Remarks on Propagation, Culture, fyc. The maple tribe, in general, 
prefer a free, deep, loamy soil, rich rather than sterile, and neither wet nor very 
dry. The situation that suits them best, is one that is sheltered and shady, 
rather than exposed. They are seldom found on the north sides of lofty moun- 
tains, or on mountains at all, except among other trees ; but in the plains they 
are found by themselves. They are chiefly propagated by seeds; but some 
kinds are increased by layers, cuttings of the shoots, and roots, and by 
budding, or grafting. The seeds of most of the species ripen in September or 
October, and may be gathered by hand, or by shaking the tree, when the keys 
begin to turn brown. The maturity of the seeds may be proved by opening the 
keys, and observing whether the cotyledons are green, succulent, and fresh ; if 
the green colour is wanting, they are good for nothing. The seeds of all the 
species may be sown in autumn, or in the spring ; and the latter time is preferable 
where moles or other vermin abound, which are liable to devour them. If sown 
in spring, they come up in five or six weeks, with the exception of those of the 
Acer campestre, which are said never to vegetate till the second or third year. 
The seeds should not be covered with more than one fourth or one half of an 
inch of soil, and the ground where they are sown may be advantageously shaded 
with leaves, heath, or straw. 
