IN EXTRA-TKOPICAL COUNTRIES. 11 



of the curled Maple-wood, which is very beautiful and much in 

 request for gun-stocks and inlaying. The tree yields also Maple- 

 sugar, but, like A. dasycarpum, only in about half the quantity 

 obtainable from A. saccharinum (Porcher). 



Acer saccharinum, Wangenheim.* 



The Sugar- or Rock-Maple ; one of the largest of the genus. It 

 is the national emblem of Canada. In the colder latitudes of 

 North America 80 or rarely 120 feet high, with a stem 3 to 4 feet 

 in diameter. The wood is strong, tough, hard, close-grained, of 

 rosy tinge, and when well seasoned used for axle-trees, spokes, 

 shafts, poles, and furniture, exteriors of pianos, saddle-trees, wheel- 

 wrights' work, wooden dishes, founders' patterns, flooring ; not apt 

 to warp ; preferred for shoe-last ; when knotty or curly it fur- 

 nishes the Birdseye and Curly Maple-wood. From the end of 

 February till the earlier part of April the trees, when tapped, will 

 yield the saccharine fluid, which is so extensively converted into 

 Maple-sugar, each tree yielding 12 to 24 gallons of sap in a season, 

 3 to 6 gallons giving lib. of sugar; but exceptionally the yield 

 may rise to 100 and more gallons. The tapping process commences 

 at the age of 20 years, and may be continued for 40 years or 

 more without destruction of the tree (G. Maw). According 

 to Porcher, instances are on record of 33 Bbs. of sugar having been 

 obtained from a single tree in one season. The Sugar-Maple is 

 rich in potash, furnishing a large proportion of this article in the 

 United States. The bark is an important constituent in several of 

 the American dyes. The tree is particularly recommended for our 

 Alpine regions. It bears a massive head of foliage on a slender 

 stem. The autumnal colouring is superb. In the Eastern States 

 of North America the Sugar-Maple is regarded as the best tree for 

 shade-avenues. Numerous other Maples exist, among which as 

 the tallest may be mentioned Acer Creticum, L., of South Europe, 

 40 feet ; A. Isevigatum, A. sterculiaceum, and A. villosum, 

 "Wallich, of Nepal, 40 feet; A. pictum, Thunb., of Japan, 

 30 feet. 



Achillea Millefolium, Linne. 



Yarrow or Millfoil. Europe, Northern Asia, and North America. 

 A perennial medicinal herb of considerable astringency, pervaded 

 with essential oil, containing also a bitter principle (achillein), and 

 a peculiar acid, which takes its name from the generic appellation 

 of the plant. 



Achillea moschata, Wulfen. 



Alps of Europe. The Genipi or Iva of the Alpine inhabitants. 

 This perennial herb ought to be transferred to our Snowy 



