62 



the black laaples. Alttough generally found native is swamps and orerflowed 

 lands, and along the margins of streams, it thrives far better on drier lands. 

 In the former situation it is a shortlived and small tree, in the latter it equals 

 the silver maple in size and age. It furnishes a striking example of the fact 

 that trees are not always found in situations best adapted to their full devel- 

 opment ; and that much is yet to be learned by experience in regard to tree 

 plantingi 



These three are the only American varieties which are deserving of cul- 

 ture, though three others might be used for ornamentaion. These are Acer 

 tENNSTLVANiouM {Striped maple, striped dogiboodor moosewood ) Leaves 3 lobed, 

 quite pointed and large, flowers like the sugar maple — a small tree of no val- 

 ue for its timber, but quite ornamental for the peculiar color of the young 

 limbs, large leaves and seed wings. Acer Spicatum {ifountain maple) is only a 

 tall shrub. Acer Negundo, (jisAfcraeiZmtzpZe.) This is sometimes called Ne- 

 BUNDO AcEROiDEBj and 60a: elder. Flowers dioaoious, from the lateral buds ; 

 the sterile in clusters on capillary pedicels; the fertile in drooping racemes. 

 Leaves pinnate with 2 to 6 leaflets. It is a small tree with light yellowish 

 green branches, has been used only as an ornamental tree. The sap is sweeter 

 than the sugar maple ; and is recommended by the sylvaculturists of Illinois, 

 for culture as a sugar tree. It thrives well on the rich prairies of that state. 

 The wood is very similar to the siver leafed and red maple. It is native along 

 the Mississippi, from Prairie du Chien down, and hardy. 



Acer PLAtASOiDES (IN orvmy maple) leaves similar in appearance to the sugar 

 maple but Islrger, seeds also larger, ripens at the same time. It is no better 

 in any particular than the sugar maple ; and in some particulars is inferior, 

 yet might be grown to give variety to the maple grove. 



Acer Pseitdo Platancs {Sycarnqre maple,) is another foreign species — a 

 coarse growing tree with large dark green leaves, is a rapid grower. The 

 wood is hard and moderately fine grained. Though these foreign species 

 have been introduced, and are valuable for timber trees, they do not equal 

 the native species for cultivation. 



The maples may all be worked on each other; and the silver leafed and red 

 may be grown from' cuttings set in moderately moist ground, using for that 

 purpose, wood two or three years of age, as such branches strike more readily 

 than the new wood. These means of propagation seem scarcely necessarv, 

 ■when We consider the [facility with which they may be grown from seeds • 

 and would scarcely be resorted to unless to secure some special character in 

 timber, foliage or manner of growth, v/hich it was desirable to multiply by 

 t)ropagationi 



TlLlACEiE. {lAndm family.) 



This order produces treesj with mucilaginous properties, fibrous bark, and 

 yalvate calyx, &c., as in the Mallow family ; but the petals imbricated in the 

 bud, the stamens usually polyadelphous, and the antlers two-celled. It is 

 represented in northern regions only by one genus. 



TICiA. (Zmden — Sasswood.) 



But one species of this tribe is a native of Wisconsin. Fruit a sort of 

 Woody globular nut, one-celled, and one or two seeded, ripens late in summer 

 or early autumn, and should be sown immediately after being gathered The 

 seedlings produce nutaerous small fibrous Wots, and are easily transplanted. 

 The name is clasical latin. 



