198 IMPORTANT FAMILIES OF PLANTS 



tings are made in early winter and stored in wet sawdust in a 

 cool cellar. Here they form calluses over the wounds and elab- 

 orate the food stored in the tissues, and are ready to grow when 

 set in the soil in the spring. 



Some varieties are rooted in sharp sand under glass. Others 

 are commonly planted in garden soils deep enough to allow only 

 one bud to show. The soil should be tramped firmly. The 

 planting is done after all danger of frost is over. They are set 

 a few inches to one foot apart in rows, and the rows far enough 

 apart to allow of clean cultivation. They should become well 

 rooted and make some growth the first year in the garden or 

 nursery. They may be then transplanted to the permanent vine- 

 yard. The distances apart in vineyards vary from six to twelve 

 feet, depending upon varieties, method of trellising, and style 

 of pruning to be used. The history of grape growing in America 

 is extremely interesting and well worth reading. An excellent 

 account is given in Bailey's " Evolution of Our Native Fruits." 



This family also includes the Virginia creeper, Boston ivy, 

 and some other ornamental vines. 



SOAP BEERY OR MAPLE FAMILY (ACERACE^) 



This family includes many shrubs and trees, with saccharine 

 sap; leaves opposite, simple or palmately lobed, occasionally 

 palmately or pinnately divided; flowers small, regular, usually 

 polygamous or dioacious, occasionally apetalous; pistil one, 

 two-chambered. 



Maples. This family contains the maples (Fig. 124) of the 

 genus Acer which are very important as shade and ornamental 

 trees. Among the most important of our native species are the 

 silver maples (A. saccharinum) , the red or scarlet maples (A. 

 rubrum)., the sugar or rock maples (A. saccharinum) , the box 

 elder (A. negundo) and others. The No-rway maple (A. platan- 



