Division of Forestry 

 University of California 



Issued April 24, 1907. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



FOREST SERVICE CIRCULAR 95. 



GIFFORD PINCHOT, Forester. 



FOREST PLANTING LEAFLET. 



SUGAR MAPLE (Acer saccharum), 



FORM AND SIZE. 



The sugar maple is a large, heavy-crowned forest tree of symmet- 

 rical form. In favorable situations in New England, New York, and 

 the Appalachian Mountains it sometimes reaches a height of 120 feet 

 and a diameter of from 4 to 6 feet, with a trunk clear of branches for 

 70 feet. The average height is about 80 feet, with a diameter of 3 

 feet. 



When growing in the open the trunk divides, about 10 feet from the 

 ground, into several large branches, which spread into a broad, round- 

 topped head. 



RANGE. 



The sugar maple is widely distributed in the eastern United States. 

 Its natural range is from southern Newfoundland to northern Geor- 

 gia and western Florida, and west to Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, 

 eastern Kansas, and eastern Texas. It is most abundant in Minne- 

 sota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Maine, and on the Appa- 

 lachian slopes. 



In the northern pine belt sugar maple is a principal forest tree and 

 often forms 25 to 75 per cent of the total stand. Associated species 

 are beech, yellow birch, white pine, red pine, white spruce, red 

 spruce, balsam fir, white birch, and red maple. Farther south it is 

 found in mixture with nearly all the hardwoods. 



On suitable soils, the sugar maple may be planted anywhere within 

 its natural range. 



HABITS AND GROWTH. 



Sugar maple prefers a fresh, well-drained soil. It grows well on 

 almost any rich soil, but can not maintain itself on poor, dry ground. 

 It is one of our most tolerant species and often forms pure stands, 

 28383 No. 9507 M 



