DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 103 



common alder (A. glutinosa), and the cut-leaved aldei 

 (A. glutinosa laciniata). The latter is much the hand 

 somer tree, and is also the rarest in our nurseries. 



THE MAPLE TREE. Acer. 



Nat. Ord. Aceraceas. Lin. Syst. Polygamia, Monoecia. 



The great esteem in which the maples are held in the 

 middle states, as ornamental trees, although they are by no 

 means uncommon in every piece of woods of any extent, 

 is a high proof of their superior merits for such purposes. 

 These consist in the rapidity of their growth, the beauty 

 of their form, the fine verdure of their foliage, and in some 

 sorts, the elegance of their blossoms. Among all the spe- 

 cies, both native and foreign, we consider the Scarlet- 

 flowering maple as decidedly the most ornamental species. 

 In the spring this tree bursts out in gay tufts of red blos- 

 soms, which enliven both its own branches and the sur- 

 rounding scene long before a leaf is seen-on other deciduous 

 trees, and when the only other appearances of vegetation 

 are a few catkins of some willows or poplars swelling into 

 bloom. At that season of the year the Scarlet maple is 

 certainly the most beautiful tree of our forests. Besides 

 this, it grows well either in the very moist soil of swamps, 

 or the dry one of upland ridges, forms a fine clustering 

 head of foliage, and produces an ample and delightful shade ; 

 while it is also as little infected by insects of any description 

 as any other tree. The latter advantage, the Sugar maple 

 and our other varieties equally possess. As a handsome 



