MAPLE FAMILY 
The Silver Maple, both in poise and outline, suggests the 
elm. Its trunk divides into secondary stems, its branches 
have an airy upward and outward sweep and its terminal 
branchlets are slender and drooping ; then, too, the bark is 
often shaggy on trunk and limbs, making the resemblance 
still greater. The finely cut leaves hang on long and slender 
footstalks and sway with every passing breeze, thus showing 
the silvery whiteness of their under surface and giving to the 
foliage a delicacy of texture all its own. 
The tree is a rapid grower, is comparatively free from. seri- 
ous disease, adapts itself to a great variety of soils, and these 
characteristics have made it a general favorite with those 
who desire to secure shade trees with as little delay as possi- 
Key of Silver Maple, Acer saccharinum. 
ble. However, it does not flourish on dry and elevated 
ground, and should never be planted in such locations, as it 
soon suffers, the branches become brittle and the tree in time 
unsightly. It is the first tree to blossom in early spring, 
coming out a week or two before either the red maple or the 
elm ; in fact it is ready to open its buds at the slightest prov- 
ocation any time during the winter, 
The fruit grows as the leaves develop and ripens in early 
summer. The keys are large with long stiff wings set at 
wide angles. If planted they will produce tiny trees before 
winter comes. 
The autumnal tint of the Silver Maple often varies from 
the usual pale dull yellow to a brilliant yellow and scarlet 
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