THE MAPLES 



who could not understand why his son should 

 spend time and money over such an experi- 

 ment, when he could buy better and cheaper 

 sugar at the store. 



The wood, although it is close-grained and 

 firm, is not so much used as that of the sugar 

 maple, owing to the fact that it decays when 

 exposed to alternate moisture and dryness. 

 There are several varieties of the wood. The 

 curled maple, one of the most attractive, has 

 wavy fibres which catch the light like watered 

 silk, and it is much used in cabinetwork. The 

 sap is only half as rich in sugar as that of the 

 sugar maple. 



The Latin name, Acer rMd7'?/77z,-^ red ni3.p\e, 

 — came from the Celtic word 7-?/^^, signifying red. 

 White or Sil- This tree is found grozviiig wild 



ver Maple in ivet places throtighout New 

 ±L7igla7id, a7id tt is also often 

 cultivated. The tru7ik is low a7id divided i7ito 

 sp7'eadi7ig bra7iches that for77i a spacious head. 

 The branches sweep down and tur7i up with 

 curvi7tg tips. Smooth, red buds like those of 

 the ;W 77iaple. It blossoms befo7^e the leaves 

 are out, like the i^ed maple. 



It is always a delight to find this tree grow- 

 ing naturally where it has not been planted, 

 for, owing to its habit of growing near flowing 



25 



