59 



succulent, care must be taken in transplanting ; or rather the best method 

 would be to sow them where they are to grow, receiving the same care and 

 protection as in the seed-bed. The wood is light colored, greenish-white, 

 soft and light, not hard enough to receive a polish. It is much used in cabi- 

 net work, for various purposes, and is especially adapted for foundations on 

 which vaneers are laid ; also for panels lor carriages, where toughness or a 

 hard surface is not required. It holds glue and receives the oil of paint ex- 

 ceeding well. Perhaps no native tree shrinks more in sersoning than this, 

 as it shrinks not only sideways but endways as well ; but when once thor- 

 oughly seasoned it remains fixed, and does not warp or twist like many hard 

 and tough woods, by subsequent working. 



There is some difference in the quality of the timber, as it comes from dif- 

 ferent locations. The best is grown in a deep rich soil ; where this is a very 

 rapid growing tree. As the wood is little' used except as sawed lumber, only 

 large trees are desirable in the forest, yet as an ornamental tree we possess 

 few that excel it, as it will grow in the open grounds in a, conical form, and 

 produce an abundance of its beautiful tulip shaped flowers in the spring. . 

 Since this tree possesses so many good qualities, and no serious fault, we 

 hope to see it extensively raised in the southern counties of this state. 

 There can be but little risk in introducing it here, inasmuch as it grows all 

 over New York, and high up in Michigan. Probably it is not here naturally, 

 because of the same reason that has produced the prairies ; the fires have 

 killed it. 



ACERACE^. {Maple family.) 



Trees, with opposite dotless leaves, without stipules , yielding a sweet sap, 

 small flowers, and a two winged fruit. From the back of each carpel grows 

 the wing, converting the fruit into a pair of separable, one-seeded samaras. 

 Seed nearly without albumen, variously coiled, and the leaf like cotyledons 

 crumpled. 



ACER. {Tke Maple). 



The trees in this tribe have flowers with calyx five-lobed— petals five or none 

 — stames six to eight, rarely five, mostly polygamous. The leaves are simple, 

 palmately lobed, mostly heart-shaped at the base. The latin clasical name 

 AOEK, maple, is derived from the Celt word ac, meaning hard, 



Acer Saccharinuhm {Sugar maple, rock maple, or hard maple) all the com- 

 mon names are derived from the qualities of the trees ; the first from its 

 sweet sap, the others from the character of the timber, it being one of the 

 firmest grained of our woods The leaves are three or five lobed, deep green 

 above, and paler beneath ; flowers a greenish yellow, appearing with the 

 leaves, in clusters, on pendulous flower stems ; and are eagerly sought for by 

 the honey bees. The seeds are broad winged, and ripen in autumn, falling 

 from the trees with the leaves ; and should be planted soon after in rich 

 mould, an inch deep; or kept in a cool dry place, where vitality would not 

 be excited until early spring. The seeds come up about the time the parent 

 tree puts forth its leaves. 



This tree which is well known in all the states north of the 40 parallel, 



possesses many valuable properties, one of which is its sweet sap, which flows 



from the tree while the frost is leaving the ground, before vegetation begins, 



