.'331 NOTES ON inaTisn torkst treks. 



7. Maplk — Acer (h.). 



The followiiif,' two species are <];ro\vii as forest trees in 

 Britain : — 



(1.) The great maple, or sycamore = Arrr Paciulo-pJatauua, L. 

 (2.) The Norway m[iYi\e= Acrr pldtonnidcs, L. 



//. niJi/i/. 



The white or yellowisli-white timber of tlie two maples is 

 moderately heavy (sycamore, sp. gravity, air dried = 'r)7, 

 Norway maple = "74), hard, fairly durable under cover, but of 

 short duration in the open. It has great heating power, but 

 is not an agreeable fuel for domestic purposes. It is used by 

 the joiner, for finer wheelwright's work, carving, mathematical 

 instruments, rollers in cotton mills, and a variety of other 

 purposes. The leaves yield good fodder. 



The timber of the sycamore is somewhat preferred to that 

 of the Norway maple. 



h. hiHiiilnilioii. 



Siicaiiiiirc. — ]\riddle Europe and "Western Asia. Goes higher 

 in mountains than the beech ; up to 5,000 feet in the Alps. 

 I'rolxibly introduced into Britain. 



Xoriraj/ Maple. — Europe ; goes further north than the 

 sycamore, up to (52° of latitude ; it does not go in mountains 

 as high as the sj'camore ; to about 4,000 feet in the Alps. Not 

 indigenous in Britain. 



r. IjintlHi/. 



C/n»«7<'.— The maple generally makes small demands on the 

 temperature, but it suffers a good deal from late frosts, and 

 also from excessive heat ; it is hardy as regards winter cold. 

 As regards light requirement, it stands al)Out half-way between 

 light demanders and shade bearers. Maple is a storm firm 

 tree. The Norway maple is specially adapted for cultivation 

 by the seaside ; it is somewhat more a tree of the plains than 

 the sycamore ; it also suffers somewhat less from late frosts. 



.s:o?L— Maple requires a deep, fresh and fertile soil : Norway 



