Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 17 



elastic, particularly sought for load-poles, ploughs, chairs and various 

 implements and utensils [Brandis] ; twigs lopped off for fodder 

 [Gamble] A. oblongum (Wallich), A. Hookeri (Miquel) and other 

 maples of Upper India furnish wood for the Assam tea-boxes [Sir 

 Dietrich Brandis]. 



Acer platanoides, Linn<$. 



The Norway-Maple, extending south to Transcaucasia. Up to 

 80 feet high. Found hardy in Norway (cultivated) to 60 56' N. ; 

 attains in 59 46' a stem-diameter of 3^ feet [Schuebeler]. The pale 

 wood much used by cabinet-makers. Tint of the autumn-foliage 

 golden- yellow. The tree is of imposing appearance, and much re- 

 commended for ornamental gardening ; it gives a denser shade than 

 most of the other maples. Placed by F. Deil as one of the very best 

 among deciduous trees for street-planting in climes not too hot and 

 dry. Sap of this species also saccharine. 



Acer Pseudo-platanus, Linne. 



The Sycamore-Maple or Spurious Plane. Middle and Southern 

 Europe, Western Asia. Hardy to 67 56' N. in Norway [Schue- 

 beler]. The celebrated maple at Trons, under which the Grisons 

 swore the oath of union in 1424, exists still [Laugethal]. Attains 

 a height of over 100 feet. The wood is compact and firm, valuable 

 for various implements, instruments and cabinet-work ; thus mangles, 

 presses, dishes, printing and bleaching works, beetling beams, and in 

 foundries the patterns are often made of this wood [Simmonds] ; for 

 the back, neck, sides and circle of violins, for pianofortes (portion of 

 the mechanism) and harps it is utilised, it being free-cutting and 

 clean on the end grain. This like some other maples furnishes a 

 superior charcoal for intense and continuous heat [Hartig]. Will 

 admit of exposure to sea-air. The sap also saccharine. 



Acer rubrum, Linne. 



The Red-Maple of North-America. Hardy in Norway to 63 26' 

 N. [Schuebeler]. A tree, attaining over 100 feet in height, 5 feet in 

 stem-diameter. This species grows well with several other maples 

 even in dry, open localities, although the foliage may somewhat 

 suffer from hot winds, but thrives most luxuriantly in swampy, fertile 

 soil. It is valued for street- planting. The foliage turns red in 

 autumn, the flaming tints being indescribable [A. J. Cook]. The 

 wood is of handsome appearance, used in considerable quantity for 

 saddle-trees, yokes, turnery and various furniture ; that of old trees is 

 somewhat cross-grained ; knotty it furnishes a portion of the curlsd 

 Maple-wood, which is so 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 obtained from A. nigrum 

 [Porcher], The flowers of some, if not all, maples are early fre- 

 quented by bees for honey. 



