THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 85 



FLAT-WINGED FRUIT TREES. 



The next Group comprises trees with a flat-winged- 

 fruit, as the Maple, Ash, and Elm. 



MAPLES. — These are stately and beautiful trees, 

 as much prized for ornament as for their value in 

 art. We have five species of Maple, all that are 

 known in the United States, two of which are mere 

 shrubs. 



1. Red Maple. (Acer rubrum, Linn.) — Well 

 known throughout the State, being found in swamps 

 and low grounds from the coast to the mountains. 

 It is among the .first trees to throw out its blossoms 

 in early spring, (as early as February in the Lower 

 District,) and with its bright scarlet flowers then 

 gives a peculiarly pleasing aspect to the otherwise 

 naked forest. In autumn, the brilliant crimson of 

 its dying foliage again makes it a conspicuous object, 

 though accompanied by others which vie with it in 

 contributing to the splendor of our autumnal scen- 

 ery. It does not appear to be so large here as farther 

 north, where it is sometimes 70 feet high and 3 to 4 

 feet through. The wood is of close and fine grain, 

 and susceptible of brilliant polish. It is extensively 

 used in the manufacture of chairs, saddle-trees, yokes, 

 and various articles of wooden ware. It is not suffi- 

 ciently solid, however, for heavy work, and speedily 

 decays if subjected to variations of heat and moist- 

 ure. When the grain of this wood has a winding 



