Handbook of Trees of the jSToetheen States aistd Canada. 325 



The stately Sugar ilaple in the forest some- 

 times attains tlie height of 100 ft. or more 

 with trunk from 3 to 5 ft. in diameter, and 

 when isolated develops a distinctly ovoid or in 

 very old trees a broad rounded top of many 

 branches and dense foliage. It is without 

 doubt the most valuable hard-wood tree in 

 America, taking into consideration the abun- 

 dance of maple sugar it produces, the choice 

 figured woods and the valuable plain wood 

 excellent in manufactures and for fuel and rich 

 in potash. It is abundant on well-drained 

 uplands, particularly northward, in company 

 with the Beech, Yellow Birch, Hemlock, Black 

 Cherry, etc., and sometimes forms almost ex- 

 clusive forests. 



I Its clear sweet sap is gathered in early 

 spring and evaporated to make the maple 

 .sugar, 12 or 13 quarts of sap making a pound 

 [of sugar, and .3-4 lbs. to a tree being an aver- 

 age j'ield. I have made 23 lbs. in one season 

 from a single tree tapped but once, which is 

 an exceptionally good record that I have never 

 iknown surpassed. The Bird's-eye and Blister 

 Maple are almost exclusively and the Curly 

 Maple largely products of this tree — unac- 

 countable freaks in the development of indi- 

 vidual trees. 



f A cu. ft. of the wood when absolutely dry 

 weighs 43.08 dbs.^ 



I Leaves 3-5-Iobed with rounded sinuses and 

 acuminate sparingly sinuate-toothed, lobes, heart- 

 sliaped or rounded at base, pubescent at first and 

 at maturity glabrous dark green above, paler be- 

 neath, turning yellow and scarlet in autumn. 

 Floicrrs appearing with the leaves in hairy ses- 

 sile drooping corymbs with long slender greenish 

 yellow pedicels ; calyx campaoulato ; corolla none. 

 Fruit ripening in autumn; samaras glabrous, with 

 slightlv divergent wings nearly 1 in. long.' 

 t Var. RuqelU Rebd. is a form commonly found in 

 [the southern states, and rarely in the northern, 

 with firm thick 3-lobed leaves having open rounded 

 sinuses and entire acuminate lobes. 



1. Syn, Acer saccharinum Wang. A. harhatum 

 Michx. 



la and 76. 



4-46-447. 



2, A. W., I, 7, 



3. For genus see 



pp. 







