IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 9 



gi'owth ; stem attaining 16 feet in circumference; wood whitish, 

 beautifully veined. A beautiful shade-tree ; delights on banks 

 of streams. The inner bark can be utilised for baskets and 

 superior mats; the wood is a substitute for hickory. The 

 curled wood is splendid for ornamental work. 



Acer Negundo, Linne. 



The Box Elder of North America. A tree, deciduous like the 

 rest of the Maples ; attains a height of about 50 feet, and is 

 rich in saccharine sap ; according to Vasey it contains almost as 

 much as the Sugar Maple. Proved well adapted for our coun- 

 try. In California it is used extensively as a shade-tree. Cul- 

 tivated, the stem attains about 8 inches in diameter in 8 years 

 (Brewer) . The wood is yellow, marked with violet and rosy 

 veins (Simmonds). 



Acer niveum, Blume. 



Continental and Insular India, up on the forest ranges. This 

 is the tallest of the Maples, attaining a height of 150 feet. 

 Several other large Maples worthy of cultivation, particularly in 

 parks, occur on the mountains of India. 



Acer palmatum, Thunberg. 



This beautiful tree, with deeply cleft • leaves, is indigenous to 

 Japan, where various varieties with red- and yellow-tinged 

 leaves occur. Should it be an aim to bring together all the 

 kinds of Maples, which could be easily grown in appropriate 

 spots, then Japan alone would furnish 25 species. 



Acer platanoides, Linne. 



The Norway Maple, extending south to Switzerland. Up to 

 70 feet high. The pale wood much used by cabinet-makers. 

 Tint of the autumn foliage golden yeUow. A tree of imposing 

 appearance, much recommended for ornamental gardening j it 

 gives a denser shade than most of the other Maples. 



Acer pseudo-platanus, Linne. 



Middle and South Europe, West Asia. The Sycamore Maple 

 or Spurious Plane. Attains a height of over 100 feet. The 

 wood is compact and firm, valuable for various implements, 

 instruments, and cabinet-work j — ^for instance, for mangles, 

 presses, dishes, printing and bleaching works, beetling beams, 

 and in foundries for patterns (Simmonds). It furnishes like 

 some other Maples a superior charcoal. Will admit of exposure 

 to sea. air. The sap also saccharine. 



