126 THE COMMON, OR FIELD MAPLE. 



of the standing tree peculiarly liable to decay, for 

 he speaks of 



" The jMaple seldom inward sound." 



The largest Maple now existing in Britain, and 

 the only one to which any particular interest at- 

 taches itself, is that mentioned above, as over- 

 shado^\'ing the grave of Gilpin in Boldre church- 

 yard. It is ten feet in circumference at the 

 ground, and at four feet from the groimd, is 

 seven feet six inches. The trunk divides into 

 branches at twelve feet, and the entire height of 

 the tree is forty-five feet. 



The foUomng notice of the Maple is extracted 

 from the Journal of a Naturalist, The Maple is 

 found growing in all our fences, generally reduced 

 by the hedger's bill, to serve the same humble pur- 

 poses as the thorns and sloes associated with it. 

 Sometimes, however, it is permitted to assume the 

 rank of a tree, when, if not possessing dignity, it 

 is certainly beautiful, and becomes an ornament 

 in the hedge-row. It is the earliest sylvan beau 

 that is weary of its summer suit; first shifting 

 its dress to ochrey shades, then trying a deeper 

 tint, and lastly, assuming an orange vest ; thus 

 setting a fashion that ere long becomes the garb 

 of all except the rustic oak, which looks re- 

 gardlessly at the beau, and keeps its verdant robe 

 unchanged. 



Soon tired of this, the Maple takes a pattern 

 from his sober neighbour Ash, throws its gaudy 

 trim away, and patiently awaits mth all his peers 

 the next new change. In spring, the woodbine 

 wreaths its knots of green around the rugged 

 limbs of the Maple ; the rose beneath puts on its 

 emerald gems, and then our gallant sir will wear 



