MAPLE FAMILY 



The Silver Maple, both in poise and outline, suggests the 

 elm. Its trunk divides into secondary stems, its branches 

 have an airy upward and outward sweep and its terminal 

 branchlets are slender and drooping ; then, too, the bark is 

 often shaggy on trunk and limbs, making the resemblance 

 still greater. The finely cut leaves hang on long and slender 

 footstalks and sway with every passing breeze, thus showing 

 the silvery whiteness of their under surface and giving to the 

 foliage a delicacy of texture all its own. 



The tree is a rapid grower, is comparatively free from seri- 

 ous disease, adapts itself to a great variety of soils, and these 

 characteristics have made it a general favorite with those 

 who desire to secure shade trees with as little delay as possi- 



Key of Silver Maple, tAcer saccharinum. 



ble. However, it does not flourish on dry and elevated 

 ground, and should never be planted in such locations, as it 

 soon suffers, the branches become brittle and the tree in time 

 unsightly. It is the first tree to blossom in early spring, 

 coming out a week or two before either the red maple or the 

 elm ; in fact it is ready to open its buds at the slightest prov- 

 ocation any time during the winter. 



The fruit grows as the leaves develop and ripens in early 

 summer. The keys are large with long stiff wings set at 

 wide angles. If planted they will produce tiny trees before 

 winter comes. 



The autumnal tint of the Silver Maple often varies from 

 the usual pale dull yellow to a brilliant yellow and scarlet. 



76 



