SUGAR. _>77 



tain age; and therefore all fear of destroying 

 the trees is at an end." 



It is a singular circumstance in the econo- 

 my of those trees, that they do not appear 

 to be injured by tapping, and it is known, 

 that old trees produce the most, and the 

 richest juice; and that those trees which 

 have been used for years, are better than 

 fresh trees. 



These trees grow as tall as the common 

 oak, and from two to three feet in diameter. 

 They are extremely ornamental in the spring, 

 as they put forth a beautiful white blossom 

 before they shew a single leaf. The timber 

 of this tree, as may be supposed, is extremely 

 inflammable, and therefore used by the 

 hunters and others for fire-wood, in prefer- 

 ence to any other. The saccharine matter 

 being so abundant in the small branches, 

 makes them a valuable fodder for the cattle, 

 horses, and sheep, of the first settlers, be- 

 fore they are able to clear the ground for 

 cultivation. The ashes of these trees pro- 

 duce a great quantity of potash of the best 

 quality. The sugar maple trees are found 

 in such plenty in most parts of North Ame- 

 rica, that it is not uncommon to find entire 

 woods of them, covering five or six acres in 



