486 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
vessels of the leaves, may possibly contribute to the depth of 
the colors, although some of the best physiologists doubt in 
regard to this. 
The Red Maple is usually a low, round-headed tree, of less 
beauty of shape than either of the other species. But the great 
variety of rich hues which it assumes, earlier in the fall than 
any other tree, gives it a conspicuous place in our many-colored 
autumnal landscape. It sometimes, when growing in rich, wet 
land, attains to a great height and size, rising to seventy or 
eighty feet, with a trunk three or four feet in diameter. It has 
then a very rough bark. 
The wood 1s whitish, with a tint of rose color, of a fine and 
close grain, compact, frm and smooth, the silver grain lying in 
layers very narrow and close, and the pores being very small. 
It is well suited for turning, and takes a fine polish; 1s easily 
wrought, and serves for a great variety of puiposes. It is much 
used for common bedsteads, tables, chairs, bureaus and other 
cheap furniture. In building, it serves well for joists, 1s an ex- 
cellent material for flooring, and may be used for any part not 
exposed to dampness. It lasts well in the flat of a ship’s floor. 
It has sufficient elasticity to serve to be made into oars, which 
are almost equal to those of white ash. Its defects are want 
of strength, and its speedy decay when alternately exposed to 
moisture and dryness. 
There are several varieties of the wood, such as the Curled 
Maple, the Landscape, the Mountain, the Blistered, &c. Curled 
Maple is the name given to a variety whose longitudinal fibres 
have a serpentine course, presenting, when sawn lengthwise, a 
varying succession of light and shade, which has a beautiful 
effect in cabinet work, imitating the lustre of changeable silk. 
it is comparatively tough and compact, while it is very light, 
and is used for gun-stocks and the ornamented handles of uten- 
sils. Landscape and Mountain Maple are varieties in color, 
caused by the irregular change from sap-wood to heart-wood. 
These are much used for the foot and head-boards of bedsteads, 
and for pannels of doors to wardrobes, &c. Blistered Maple is 
arare variety, resembling the Bird’s Eye of the Rock Maple. 
As fuel, the Red Maple 1s much used, burning readily and 
