MAPLE. 



(Acer.) 



The maples grow on all of the continents of the northern 

 hemisphere. Nearly one half of the known species belong in 

 China, Japan, and the Orient. The principal European 

 species (Acer psetido- plat anus) is the European scycamore.* 

 The hard or sugar maple (Acer saccliaruni) is one of the 

 principal deciduous trees of North America. 



Maple wood t is characterized by its appearance and by its 

 fine compact texture. The first quality is so marked that 

 selected pieces take rank among the most beautiful of cabinet 

 woods ; the last is so pronounced as to fit it for carvings and 

 even for type. "Birdseye," "blister," and "curly" 

 maples are not from different species, but are -the results of 

 fibre distortions, possible in some form in any tree of any 

 species, but peculiarly liable to occur in the maple ; birdseye 

 and blister effects for the most part in the hard maples, curly 

 effects in the hard, but generally in the softer, species. The 

 distortions do not occur in all trees, and it is seldom possible 

 to tell whether the woods are thus figured until after the trees 

 have been cut. Maple wood shrinks moderately, stands well 

 in protected places, is strong, tough, but not durable when 

 exposed. Pores are not arranged in circles, but are scattered 

 irregularly throughout the layers. Maple is used for ceiling, 

 flooring, panelling, car and ship construction, shoe-lasts, shoe- 

 pegs, furniture, school supplies, implements, and machinery. 

 Sugar is principally, although not exclusively, present in the 

 sap of the sugar maple. \ The softer species are sometimes 



* See Sycamore, page 65. 



f These notes apply to the American product. 



J Vermont, New York, and Michigan produce the larger portion of the about fifty 

 million pounds of sugar and three million gallons of syrup annually manufactured 

 in the United States. Third Annual Report of the Fisheries, Game, and Forestry 

 Commissioners, New York, 1897, p. 308. 



40 



