61 



Acer NidRDM (btaek mapte.) iJhis is only a tarlety of the ptecediiig, ahd ii 



Very similar in its growth and general appearance, but does not come into 



leaf quite as early in the spring, and has a denser and darker foliage. The 



timber cannot be distinguished, nor ia there any marked difference in the 



growth of the tree, or sap. Both these maple arfe better adapted to the 



forest culture than as shade ti'ees for road sides, as they delight iil spreading 



their feeding roots near the surface of the ground, and require the mulch of 



the leaves. 



Acer DastcJarpUM (wflke or silver mdple.) Leaves deeply five lobed, with 

 sinuses rather aeuto, silvery white, and when young downy underneath, the 

 divisions nattow, cut-lobed and toothed— flowers greeiiish yello#, on short 

 pedicels, appearing befofe the leaves— Pruit Woolly when young with large 

 divergent wings; ripens between the 1st and ISth of June, generally about 

 the time the leaves afe fully expanded ; and fiiust be sown immediaaely, as ai 

 that season of the year the heat will excite its vitality and destroy it unless 

 in the ground. When planted in mellow motild, less than inch deep, the seed 

 will spring up in froni seven to ten days, and attain the height of twelve to 

 twenty-four inches the first year. This is the most rapid growing of all 

 the maples, often making twenty feet high in three of four years. It suc- 

 ceeds in most soils, but prefers a rich black one like the sugar maple. Hence 

 it will sometimes thrive where the other will die. Its wood is fine grained 

 and considerably used for a vatiety of purposes, but is not as hard or valuable 

 for cabinet Work, and mill geefidg, or for fuel as the sugSr maple. The tree 

 is often used for sugai? making. 



This tree seldom attains a height exceeding 50 feet or two feet in diameter) 

 and is consequently shoft-lived. AS a fuel pfoducing tree its maximum value 

 may be assutned at 20 jfears of age. From its long graceful branches and 

 silvery foliagCj it is highly prized as a shade tree. But this long branching 

 top renders it very liable to be badly broken by the winds, and loads of snow 

 and ice. Still it deserves particular attention from those who desire to pre 

 cure a quick supply of wood and a large yield from the acre. For the pur- 

 pose of growing wood it might be planted at the rate of 640 trees to the 

 acre, or SJ feet apart, or at 5^ feet 1,440 trees could be grown, letting it oc-" 

 cupy the entire ground. At 20 years after planting, a crop of 100 cords of 

 wood might be expected. Every 15 years afterwards a similar crop might be 

 cut from the young shoots and volunteer trees, while the trimmings would 

 meet the interest on the purchase money, first expenses, and taxes on the 

 land. The wood, though less valuable than the sugar maple, is preferred to 

 the oaks for kitchen fuel. 



Acer Kcbrum {Red maple, swamp Or soft maple, for it takes all these names 

 in different localities.) Leaves three to five lobed with sinuses acute, whitish 

 iinderneath, the lobes irregular serrate and notched acutely, the middle are 

 usually longest — fiowers on very short pedicels, deep red or scarlet, rarely 

 pale or yellow, appearing very early in the spring before the leaves ; seeds 

 ripen like the silver maple, but are not quite as large. 



The small branches are deep red in winter, and from them and the flowers 

 it takes its name, red maple. Its habits, timber and rapid growth corres- 

 pond so nearly with the silver maple that no special description is required* 

 In fact the two appear to be almost Varietieaof eaoll other, like the sugSr and 



