CHAP. XXII. JCERACEAi. A CER. 427 



At Boston, some cabinet-makers saw it into thin plates for inlaying mahogany ; 

 but the most constant use of the curled maple is for the stocks of fowling- 

 pieces and rifles, which to elegance and lightness unite toughness and strength, 

 the result of the twisted direction of the fibres. The cellular matter of the 

 inner bark is of a dusky red. By boiling, it yields a purplish colour, which, on 

 the addition of sulphate of iron, becomes dark blue approaching to black. It 

 is used in the country, with a certain portion of alum in solution, for dyeing 

 black. The wood of the red-flowering maple does not burn well, and is so 

 little esteemed for fuel, that it is rarely brought for that purpose into the cities. 

 It has but little strength, is liable to injury from insects, and ferments and 

 speedily decays when exposed to the alternations of dryness and moisture. 

 For these reasons, though it is now extensively used in America, its importance 

 in the arts is not sufficient to entitle it to preservation ; and Michaux supposes 

 that, when artificial plantations become necessary in that country, the red 

 maple will be altogether omitted. The French Canadians make sugar from 

 the sap of this maple, which they call plaine ; but, as in the preceding species, 

 the product of a given measure is only half as great as that obtained from the 

 sugar maple. (Mic/iaux.) In Britain, and throughout Europe, the sole use 

 of the red-flowering maple is as an ornamental tree; and, whether we regard 

 the beauty of its flowers and opening leaves in early spring; of its red fruits in 

 the beginning of summer, or its red foliage in autumn, it deserves to be con-i 

 sidered one of the most ornamental of hardy trees. Unfortunately, in British 

 nurseries, it is generally raised by layers]; whereas, if it were grafted on A. erio- 

 carpum, or raised from seed, as it is said to be on the Continent (for, whether 

 it be considered as a race or a species, it will reproduce itself), the plants 

 would be of much more vigorous growth. 



Soil, Situation, Propagation, Sec Contrary to the general character of the 

 maples, this species is said to thrive best in moist soil, which must, however, 

 at the same time, be rich ; and, for the tree to attain a large size, the situation 

 ought to be sheltered. In Britain, it is chiefly propagated by layers ; but, on 

 the Continent, almost always by seeds, which ripen before midsummer, even 

 sooner than those of A. eriocarpum, and, if sown immediately, come up the 

 same season. The seeds, even when mixed with soil, do not keep well ; and, 

 in general, but a small proportion of those sent home from America vegetate 

 in Europe. 



Statistics. In the neighbourhood of London, the largest tree is at Kew, which, in 45 years, has 

 attained the height of 40 ft. : one at Purser's Cross is 35 ft. high ; and at Kenwood, in 38 years, the 

 tree has attained the height of 34 ft. In Berkshire, at White Knights, 30 years planted, it is 18 ft. 

 high ; ^Hertfordshire, at Cheshunt, 8 years planted, it is 22 ft. high ; in Staffordshire, at Trentham, 

 it is 50 ft. high ; in Surrey, on an eminence in the arboretum at Milford, there is a tree 40 ft. high, 

 which, in autumn, when the leaves have assumed their dark red colour, looks like a column of scar, 

 let, and is seen from a great distance all round the country. In Surrey, at Farnham Castle, a tree, 

 45 years planted, is 50 ft. high.i In Scotland, in the Glasgow Botanic Garden, there is a tree, 16 years 

 planted, and 20 ft. high ; and in the Perth Nursery, one, 14 years planted, which is also 20 ft. high. In 

 Ireland, in Down, at Ballyleady, 60 years planted, it is 28 ft. high ; in Kilkenny, at Woodstock, 60 

 years planted, and 50 ft. high ; in Louth, at Oriel Temple, 40 years planted, and 44 ft. high. In France, 

 in the Botanic Garden at Toulon, 45 years planted and 29 ft. high. In Saxony, at Worlitz, 65 years 

 planted, and 55 ft. high. In Austria, at Laxenburg, 30 years planted, and" 25ft. high. At Briick 

 on the Leytha, 35 years planted, and 32 ft. high. In Prussia, at Sans Souci, 40 years planted, 

 and 38 ft. high. In Bavaria, at Munich, 24 years planted, and 40 ft. high. 



Commercial Statistics. Plants, in London, cost from Is. to 1*. Qd. each, and 

 seeds 4s. a quart ; at Bollwyller, plants are 1 franc 50 cents each ; at New 

 York, plants are 15 cents each, and seeds 2 dollars 25 cents a pound. 



¥ \1. A. monspessula v num L. The Montpelier Maple. 



Identification. Lin. Spec, 1497. ; Hayne Dend., p. 210. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 595. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 649. 



Synonymes. A. trilobum Moench. ; A. trifolium Duh. ; A. trilobatum Lam. ; E rablede Montpelier, 



* Fr. ; Franzosischer Ahorn, Ger. 



'Engravings. Pluk. Aim., t. 251. f. 3. ; Tratt. Arch., 1. No. 20. ; Duh. Arb., 1. t. 10. f. 8. ; Schmidt 

 Arb., 1. t.;l4. ; and Krause, 1. 101. ; our fig. 131. in p. 458.; and the plate of this species in our Se- 

 cond Volume. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Leaves cordate, 3-lobed ; lobes almost entire, and equal. 

 Corymbs few-flowered, pendulous. Fruit smooth, with the wings hardly 

 diverging. A low tree or shrub, found in the south of Europe, and intro- 

 duced in 1739; flowering in May. 



