11 



THE MAPLES 



The maples are such well-known, generally 

 loved trees that there is hardly any one who is 

 not familiar with at least some members of the 

 large family. The headquarters seems to be in 

 Asia, more than thirty species living in China 

 and Japan. America has fourteen native ma- 

 ples, nine being found east of the Eockies. Be- 

 sides these many Japanese and European kinds 

 have been imported and now seem perfectly at 

 home. 



Though spread over a wide area and a gen- 

 eral favorite with the poets, the maple does not 

 seem to have commended itself to the gods or to 

 have been interwoven into myths and legends. 

 Perhaps its "key" has served to unlock any 

 mystery which may have been inclined to settle 

 around it. Certainly it has always served as a 

 means of identification, and everywhere the ma- 

 ple may be known by its keys, or samaras. 

 These keys consist of two "wings," thick on 

 the lower margin where the tiny seed babies are 



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