THE COMMON, OR FIELD MAPLE. 29 



of this texture and quality. That in ancient times it was 

 held in high estimation we gather from Ovid, who de- 

 scribes it as 



acerque coloribus impar. 



And again from Pliny, who has treated at length upon the 

 brusca and mollusca, the names under which the knobs and 

 excrescences of this tree were recognized, and of which 

 furniture and cabinet work of the most costly description 

 were fabricated. In France, and other continental parts, 

 it is still extensively used by turners and cabinet-makers, 

 and the wood of the roots, which is often knotted and 

 curiously marbled, is converted into snuff-boxes, pipes, and 

 other fancy articles. 



When green, the wood weighs sixty-one pounds nine 

 ounces the cubic foot, and loses about ten pounds in 

 seasoning ; it burns freely, and is considered an excellent 

 fuel ; the charcoal made of it is of the very best quality, 

 and fit for the manufacture of gunpowder. When topiary 

 works were in fashion, it was one of the plants used in 

 this kind of gardening, as it was found to bear the shears 

 as well as the hornbeam or beech ; but since they fell 

 into disuse, it is scarcely inquired for at the nurseries, 

 though we think it well deserves a place, as a picturesque 

 tree, in ornamental grounds, and might also be ad- 

 vantageously introduced as an under-growth into many 

 of our mixed plantations. It is propagated by seed, which 

 is produced in profusion by old trees ; only a portion 

 of what is sown comes up the first year, the remainder 

 lying eighteen months in the ground before it vegetates ; 

 the young plants, after being run into nursery rows, are fit 

 to put out permanently in the course of three years. A 

 blotch-leaved variety and another of a free fastigiate growth, 

 are to be met with in the nurseries, both of which are pro- 



