FOREST TREES 
flood of light without being in danger 
of presenting a clotted appearance. 
The petioles, or little leaf-stems, as- 
sume a more horizontal position than 
they do in the red maple, and the twigs 
are usually shorter, which allows a 
denser richness in the foliage, which 
every breeze plays upon and ruffles as 
it passes by. 
The red maple has a more airy look. 
This is due partly to the character 
of the leaf, but primarily to that of 
the branchwork. The main branches 
spread out in easy, flowing lines, much 
as they do in the sugar maple; but 
they assume an ampler range, and the 
last divisions, the twigs, take on de- 
cided curves, rising to right and left. 
On these the leaves multiply, each leaf 
poised lightly upon its curved petiole. 
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