18 



maple the two lower lobes nearest the stem are 

 small and the edge of the leaf is serrated or cut into 

 small teeth like those of a saw. The leaf of the silver 

 maple is much like that of the red maple but the 

 notches between the lobes are narrower and come to 

 a sharp point. In the Prairie Provinces the only 

 maple growing naturally is the Manitoba or ash- 

 leaved maple. Some of the leaflets are shaped like 

 those of the maple and some resemble those of the 

 ash, and the leaf is compound as explained under 

 Walnut. In British Columbia there are the broad- 

 leaved maple, with leaves somewhat like those of the 

 hard maple but much larger, and the vine maple 

 a small tree growing under the shelter of others and 

 with leaves somewhat circular, and having seven to 

 nine sharp-pointed, sharp-toothed lobes. Maple 

 wood is used for flooring and furniture. The wood 

 with the peculiar figures called bird's eye is particu- 

 larly handsome. Maple sugar made from the sap 

 of the hard maple or sugar maple is known to most 

 boys and girls. 



THE OAKS 



There are twelve species of oak in Canada but 

 most of them are confined to the peninsula forming 

 the southwestern part of Ontario. The oaks are 

 distinguished by their leaves, longer than broad, 

 divided into several lobes, and by the acorns borne 

 in cups. The oaks are divided into two main groups; 

 the white oaks, with rounded lobes on the leaves and 

 sweet acorns; and the black oaks (which include the 

 red oaks) with the lobes of the leaves pointed and 

 bristle-tipped and with bitter acorns. 



