VEGETABLES, . 259 



with its three varieties, afford a material for the 

 most useful Summer beer, which is also a most pow- 

 erful antiscorbutic. The /2. ahies Americana^ or 

 hemlock, though labouring under a bad character, 

 by reason of its being used when cut at improper 

 seasons, and exposed to the weather, is nevertheless 

 a valuable wood for inside work, and for the upper 

 rafters of houses : it also is useful for tanning ; but 

 requires to be mixed with the well known oaks; the 

 Indians dye the splints of their baskets with it, of a 

 red colour. The tree yields a balsam which has been 

 useful as a medicine. 



The genus acer^ or maple, is not less useful for 

 various purposes. The a, negundo^ or white or ash 

 leaved maple, is much used in cabinet work, being 

 firm and smooth, takes a fine polish, and stain. The 

 a. rubrum^ or scarlet maple, when sawed into 

 boards, exhibits the most beautiful waving appear- 

 ance, and makes articles of furniture equal to sattin 

 wood. A species of maple abounds in Nova Scotia, 

 and, no doubt, farther south, called bird-eye maple, 

 which also is very beautiful. But the a. sacchari- 

 nuni^ or sugar maple, ranks in the first importance 

 among our forest trees. This valuable native is pe- 

 culiarly dear to the citizens of this country, as it fur- 

 nishes an article of the first necessity, by the labour 

 of free men, and of equal quality, to that produced 

 by the sugar cane ; and the timber is highly useful 

 for various mechanical purposes, particularly for 

 saddle trees. From the maple may also be made a 

 pleasant molasses, an agreeable beer, a strong sound 

 wine, and an excellent vinegar. 



The following facts upon the flowing of maple- 

 juice, are curiousj and deserve investigation. 



