THE MAPLES 



who could not understand why his son should 

 spend time and money over such an experi- 

 ment, when he could buy better and cheaper 

 sugar at the store. 



The wood, although it is close-grained and 

 firm, is not so much used as that of the sugar 

 maple, owing to the fact that it decays when 

 exposed to alternate moisture and dryness. 

 There are several varieties of the wood. The 

 curled maple, one of the most attractive, has 

 wavy fibres which catch the light like watered 

 silk, and it is much used in cabinetwork. The 

 sap is only half as rich in sugar as that of the 

 sugar maple. 



The Latin name, Acer rubrum, red maple, 

 came from the Celtic word rub, signifying red. 



White or Sil- ^ n ' s iree is found growing wild 

 ver Maple in wet places throughout New 



Acer saccharinum 77 7 / 7 , 1 /-, 



Jingtana, and it is also often 

 cultivated. The trunk is low and divided into 

 spreading branches that form a spacious head. 

 The branches sweep down and turn up with 

 curving tips. Smooth, red buds like those of 

 the red maple. It blossoms before the leaves 

 are out, like the red maple. 



It is always a delight to find this tree grow- 

 ing naturally where it has not been planted, 

 for, owing to its habit of growing near flowing 



2 5 



