116 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



(there are several of them) is red, and often so finely 

 streaked, that it is called Scotch mahogany in the 

 north, and furniture is made of it. That which is 

 got out of the bogs, in an undecayed state, (and 

 though it be not so durable in the air as birch, it lasts 

 much longer in water,) has the colour, if not the con- 

 sistency of ebony. Of birch or holly, which are very 

 white, of jumper, which has a slight cinnamon tinge, 

 and of the bog alder or the bog oak, both of which 

 are black, the coopers in the north of Scotland form 

 variegated cups, some of which are very handsome. 

 In moist situations alder does very well for founda- 

 tion piles; and from the ease with which it can be 

 perforated when green, and from its not being liable 

 to split, it is well adapted for wooden pipes. 



On the banks of the Mole, in Surrey, the alder 

 grows very luxuriantly; and it adds great beauty to 

 the landscape in the neighbourhood of Dorking and 

 Esher. 



MAPLE. 



Of the Maple (Acer} there are about thirty-six 

 species, natives of various countries. SLx are indi- 

 genous to Europe, about twelve to America, and the 

 remainder to various parts of Asia. Most of them are 

 deciduous trees, but one is an evergreen shrub. It 

 will be necessary to notice only two the Grreat Maple, 

 or Mock-plane (Acer psendo-platanus) ; and the 

 American Sugar Maple (Acer saccharinum) the 

 first on account of its timber, and the last on account 

 of its sap. 



The Great Maple, called also the sycamore and 

 the plane-tree, is hardy; stands the salt spray of the 

 sea better than most trees; grows rapidly, and to a 

 great height. The timber is very close and compact, 

 easily cut, and not liable either to splinter or to warp. 

 Sometimes it is of uniform colour, and sometimes it is 



