DECIDUOUS TREES. 343 



those who are curious in the species and varieties might graft them 

 in the upper branches of old trees, or young trees might be headed 

 down and one kind grafted on each." 



THE MAPLE. Acer. 



The universal popularity of the maples is a marked proof of 

 their great merits. Among the very earliest to expand into full 

 leaf in the spring, unsurpassed in profusion of foliage and depth 

 of shade in summer, glowing with brilliant colors in autumn, 

 and finally dropping their leaves clean and dry to spangle the 

 lawn with the bright colors of a painter's palette — surely no other 

 family of trees can boast a greater array of merits. Add to these 

 that it is a healthy family, subject to fewer diseases or noxious in- 

 sects than most others, that the different species are adapted to 

 nearly all soils, and are mostly of that moderate size and compact 

 form that renders them more appropriate than trees of grosser 

 growth to be placed in cultivated small grounds, and the fact of 

 their great popularity is fully accounted for. As to their faults, 

 excepting only their too great uniformity of outline, we confess 

 having failed to discover any. The following species and varieties, 

 however, have many marked differences, some of them being much 

 less valuable than others. At the risk of too frequent repetition, 

 we will here again call attention to the fact, that persons having a 

 collection of native maples on their grounds, whether of one or more 

 species, may obtain a great variety of maple foliage in a short time 

 by grafting the rarer or more curious varieties upon them. 



The Sugar Maple. Acer saccharinum. — ^We begin with this 

 favorite indigenous species, because we believe it, all things con- 

 sidered, the most valuable ornamental tree of all the maples. It 

 is, happily, too well known and appreciated in this country to need 

 have attention called to its beauties. Its form at maturity, when 

 grown in open ground, is ovate, rather higher than its breadth, and 

 remarkable for its compactness and the profuse growth of leaves 

 in all parts of its head. Its lights and shadows are peculiar, being 



