MAPLES. 263 



gallons of sap are usually required to make a pound of 

 sugar. Two or three pounds of sugar per tree is the average 

 yield, but large isolated trees will often yield very much more 

 than this. When tapping is properly done it does not 

 seriously impair the health of the tree. 



Acer platanoides. Norway Maple. 



Leaves broad, smooth, thin, bright green on both sides, 

 their 5 short taper-pointed lobes set with coarse taper-pointed 

 teeth. Flowers numerous with both sepals and petals dis- 

 tinct, yellowish, conspicuous, in erect corymbose clusters 

 terminating the shoot of the season, or some from lateral 

 T3uds appearing with the leaves. Fruit in drooping clusters 

 with large divergent wings spreading' 2ito 3i inches, ripening 

 in autumn. Buds blunt pointed and rather divergent; new 

 growth often reddish; juice milky. Resembles the Sugar 

 Maple in general appearance but is easily distinguished from 

 it. Its leaves hold green later than other maples and turn a 

 bright yellow in autumn. A round headed tree attaining a 

 height of from 30 to 60 feet. 



Distribution. Northern and central Europe and Asia. 



Propagation. By seeds for the species and by budding, 

 grafting or layering for the varieties. 



Properties of wood. Heavy, hard and durable undercover. 

 Specific gravity, air dried, 0.68. 



Uses. The Norway Maple has been much used as an 

 ornamental tree in the northeastern states, where it is long 

 lived and often planted in preference to the Sugar Maple near 

 the sea coast. In this section it has not been widely tried, 

 but at the Minnesota Experiment Station it has never been 

 seriously injured by the cold during the past twelve years and 

 has withstood drouth extremely well. In the very dry sum- 

 mer of 1894, Birch, Black Cherry and European Larch died 

 out in large numbers in the forest plantation, while on similar 

 land near by the Norway Maple grew vigorously, its leaves 

 retaining their dark green color throughout the season. The 

 wood of the Norway Maple is used by the joiner, wheelwright 

 and carver for a variety of purposes. 



Varieties. There are many varieties of the Norway Maple, 

 the most durable of which are the two following: 



