• DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 141 



tive woods or swamps. The finest trees, however, are pro- 

 duced from seed. 



The Sugar maple, [Acer saccharinum,) is a very abun- 

 dant tree in the northern states and the Canadas, where it 

 sometimes forms immense forests. The bark is white ; the 

 leaves four or five inches broad, and five-lobed ; varying 

 however in size according to the age of the tree. Tlie flow- 

 ers are small, yellowish, and suspended by slender drooping 

 peduncles. The seed is contained in two capsules united at 

 the base, and terminated in a membranous wing ; they are ripe 

 in October. From certain parts of the trunks of old Sugar 

 maples, the fine wood called bird's-eye maple is taken, which 

 is so highly prized by the cabinet-makers ; and the sap, which 

 flows in abundance from holes bored in the stem of the tree 

 early in March, produces the well-known maple sugar. 

 This can be clarified, so as to equal that of the cane in fla- 

 vour and appearance ; and it has been demonstrated that the 

 planting of maple orchards, for the production of sugar, would 

 be a profitable investment. 



The Scarlet-flowering maple, (A. rubrum,) is found chiefly 

 on the borders of rivers, or in swamps ; the latter place ap- 

 pears bpst suited to this tree, for it there often attains a very 

 large size : it is frequently called the Soft maple or Swamp 

 maple. The blossoms come out about the middle of April, 

 while the branches are yet bare of leaves, and their numerous 

 little pendulous stamens appear like small tufts of scarlet or 

 purple threads. The leaves somewhat resemble those of the 

 Sugar maple, but are rather smaller, and only three or four 

 lobed, glaucous or whitish underneath, and irregularly toothed 

 on the margin. This tree may easily be distinguished when 

 young from the former, by the bark of the trunk, which is 

 gray, with large whitish spots. Its trunk, in the choicest 

 parts, furnishes the beautiful wood known as the curled ma- 

 ple. 



The White maple. {A. eriocarpum.) This species so much 

 resembles the Scarlet-flowering maple, that they are often 



