24 ACERACE.E. 



the following reasons : in the first place, it is a tree of the 

 first rank, thrives well in our climate, and attains a height 

 equal to that of the sycamore within a like period of years ; 

 secondly, as being a decided acquisition to our park and 

 wood-land scenery ; and thirdly, its wood promises to be 

 of more value, and adapted for a greater variety of pur- 

 poses than that of the sycamore, being white, close-grained, 

 firm, susceptible of a fine polish, and frequently exhibit- 

 ing those beautiful appearances in the direction and dis- 

 position of the fibre, for which the Bird's-eye Maple of 

 America is so highly prized and sought after. It is a 

 native of Europe, and, as the name implies, is found as 

 far north and west as Norway ; it is also met with in 

 France, Switzerland, and Germany, and eastward in Rus- 

 sia. Loudon* observed it in 1814 " in all woods bordering 

 the public road from Wilna to Mittau, and from Moscow 

 to Gallicia ;" he further adds, " next to the birch and 

 trembling poplar, it seemed to us the most abundant tree 

 in the Russian woods." 



The sap of this species, like that of most of its con- 

 geners, contains a considerable portion of saccharine mat- 

 ter, and sugar is sometimes made from it ; in Norway 

 and Sweden it flows in less abundance than that of the 

 sycamore, but contains more of the saccharine principle 

 in a given quantity of sap than the latter tree. Upon a 

 rich free soil it grows with rapidity and luxuriance, and 

 even thrives upon soils of an inferior quality, provided they 

 are not surcharged with moisture. Another recommend- 

 ation it possesses is its aptitude to withstand the effects of 

 the sea-breeze, which it is found to do upon the western 

 coast of Scotland as well as upon the shores of the Baltic 

 and western coast of Norway. 



* " Arboretum Britarmicum," p. 410. 



