TREES GROWING IN RICH SOIL. 197 



It is a more valuable species but is seldom found outside of 

 its natural range which is in the vicinity of southern Illinois 

 and the neighbouring states. Its bark and seeds are used 

 medicinally. 



SUGAR riAPLE. HARD HAPLE. ROCK HAPLE. 



SUGAR-TREE. {Plate CIV) 



Acer Sdccharum. 



Bark : light grey ; rather smooth, becoming rough and scaly with age. 

 Leaves : simple ; opposite ; with long petioles ; rounded in outline, squared 

 or cordate at the base, with three, five or seven coarsely cut and sharply pointed 

 lobes, the lower pair smaller than the other three, and at times, entire; sinuses, 

 rounded. Rich green and glabrous above, lighter below and pubescent, espe- 

 cially so along the ribs. Flowers: greenish yellow; growing on drooping 

 pedicels in sessile, abundant corymbs, and appearing with the leaves. Calyx : 

 bell-shaped ; fringed. Petals^: none. Samaras : greenish yellow ; drooping 

 on slender, hairy pedicels ; th'e wings broad and slightly spreading ; about one 

 inch long. 



This is one of the very 

 good trees. It is so perfect 

 in outline, so beautiful and 

 useful. Perhaps it is most 

 widely known through its 

 sap, from which is made the 

 main quantity of maple 

 sugar. A square block of 

 this well-known article of 

 commerce, however, can 

 hardly disperse the same 

 love that is felt for the tree 

 by those living in its neigh- 

 bourhood, and who look 

 eagerly forward to the time 

 when sugar is made. Then 

 is the tree's yearly festival. Jeer sdccharum. 



