TREES GROWING NEAR WATER. 



8 



in the deep woods. No matter, however, how lovely the tree, 

 there is always a slight disappointment in perceiving that it has 

 not the outer row of showy and neutral flowers that we associ- 

 ate with V. Opulus^ cranberry tree, and V, alnifolium^ hobble- 

 bush. 



Both of these are fine shrubs. Of the former, V. Opulus 

 {Plate XXXIJI), the bark is smooth and grey, and its leaves 

 have from three'to five lobes. Its fruit is juicy and acrid and is 

 used as a substitute for the true cranberries. 



/'. abiifoliiim {Plate XXXIV^ also bears bright scarlet and 

 beautiful fruit, but it is not edible. Its blossoms, however, are 

 very similar to those of the cranberry tree. The orbicular 

 leaves are pointed at the apex, cordate at the base and have 

 upon them a reddish scurf. 



RED MAPLE. SWAMP MAPLE. SCARLET MAPLE. 

 SOFT MAPLE. {Plate XXXV, frontispiece.) 



Acer riibriim. 



FAMILY SHAPE HEIGHT RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Maple Round-topped: branches^ 30-50 or 100 Neiv Brunswick to March, April. 



upright. feet, Fia., ivi'stward to Fruit; May, June. 



Texas and Dakota. 



^f?;-/^' ; dark grey; rather smooth or flaky when yoim^, becoming rough as 

 it grows older. Branches Tiwd. twigs : reddisli, marked l)y longitudinal white 

 lenticels. Leaves: simple; opposite; with long, round, reddish jietioles ; 

 rounded, with from three to five lobes variously shaped and toothed, the lower 

 pair small when present and frequently absent. Apex of lobes, pointed and 

 irregularly serrate ; the base of the leaf rounded or wedge shaj^ed. Sinuses: 

 rounded and extending hardly more than a third way in to the midrib. Green 

 aljove, whitish underneath ; the veins pubescent on the under side. Flowers: 

 crimson; showy; growing on short pedicels in drooping, sessile, umbel-like 

 clusters which grow from lateral buds, and appear some time before the leaves. 

 The staminateand pistillate flowers grow in separate clusters and usually on 

 f'ifferent trees. Fniit: bright red ; growing on lengthened pedicels with wings 

 hardly an inch long and slightly incurved; glabrous. 



Who is it that can tell when the spring awakes, — when the 

 first sign of life is disclosed by the earth ? And how has he 

 who perhaps tells us found it out ? Has he followed the honey 

 bee from his lurking place, as through a dreary landscape he 

 seeks the swelling blossoms ; or has he been led by the rabbit 



