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MAPLE TREE.— ACER. 



Natural order, Trihilatce. Acer a, Juss. J genus 

 of the Polygamia Moncecia class. 



" Nor less attractive is the woodland scene, 

 Diversified with trees of every growth." 



It is in our hedgerows principally that we 

 find the common maple, as it is seldom, if 

 ever, allowed the honour of adding its shade 

 amongst the number of those that compose 

 the British shrubbery ; although, according to 

 Chaucer, it formed the bower of the fair Ro- 

 samond de Clifford ; and Virgil celebrates it 

 as the throne of Evander, and its branches as 

 the canopy under which he received and 

 seated iEneas. 



f* On sods of turf he sat, the soldiers round ; 

 A maple throne, rais'd higher from the ground, 

 Receiv'd the Trojan chief; and o'er the bed 

 A lion's shaggy hide, for ornament, they spread." 



JEneis, 8. 



Pliny enumerates ten different kinds of the 

 maple that were known to the Romans in his 

 time, the timber of some of which was in the 

 highest estimation on account of its fine 

 grain and beautiful veins. It was considered 



f 4 



