GETTING ACQUAINTED VITH THE TREES 



and thicker than those of the Norway, and they 

 are whitish underneath, instead of light green. 

 The habit of the two is twin -like; they can 

 scarcely be distinguished when the leaves are 

 off. But the flowers are totally different, and 

 one would hardly believe them to be akin, judg- 

 ing only by appearances. The young leaves of 

 the sycamore maple are lush and vigorous when 

 the long, grape-like flower-clusters appear below 

 the twigs. "Racemes" they are, botanically 

 and that is another truly good scientific word- 

 while the beautiful Norway maple's flowers 

 must stand the angular designation of "cor- 

 ymbs." But don't miss looking for the syca- 

 more maple's long, pendulous racemes. They 

 seem more grape-like than grape blossoms ; and 

 they stay long, apparently, the transition from 

 flower to fruit being very gradual. I mind me 

 of a sycamore I pass every winter day, with 

 its dead fruit -clusters, a reminiscence of the 

 flower- racemes, swinging in the frosty breeze, 

 waiting until the spring push of the life within 

 the twigs shoves them off. 



To be ready to recognize this maple at the 

 right time, it is well to observe and mark the 



16 



