92 



PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



their distribution, not only among different trees growing under 

 exactly the same conditions, but on different parts of the same 

 tree. Sometimes the leaves on a single branch will change to 

 an intense crimson or scarlet, while those on other branches will 

 retain their normal color until cut by frosts. Then, again, one 

 tree in a row will assume the scarlet or crimson color, and those 

 adjoining will show very little, if any coloring, except perhaps 

 a faded red or yellow ; but the very next season these colors 

 may be reversed. 



The Red Maple is not only a handsome tree, but well worth 

 cultivating, both for ornamental and useful purposes. There 

 are several varieties in cultivation, but not sufficiently distinct 

 as to have attracted much attention. Acer ruhrum fulgens is a 

 dwarf variety, and A. r. globosum is a variety with a globose, or 

 round head, while A, r. pyramidalis is a very distinct pyrami- 

 dal form. 



A. Spieatnm. — Mountain Maple. — Leaves slightly three-lobed; 

 coarsely toothed ; downy beneath, with dense, upright racemes 

 of flowers appearing very late in the spring, succeeded by small 

 seeds with narrow wings. It is only a small shrub, six to ten 

 feet high, found in the Northern Border States and on some of 

 the higher mountains southward. 



A. PeimsylTaiiicum. — Striped-bark Maple, Moose-wood, Striped 

 Dog-wood. — Leaves large, thin, somewhat heart-shaped, but 

 with three-pointed, serrated lobes. Flowers greenish, in termi- 

 nal racemes, appearing after the leaves. Seeds with large, diver- 

 gent wings. A small tree, with light-green bark, striped with 

 darker lines. Sometimes cultivated as an ornamental shrub or 

 small tree. 



A. circinatnm. — Round-leaved, or Vine Maple. — Leaves rounded; 

 seven to nine lobes ; serrate. Flowers purplish, in small clus- 

 ters. The wings of the seed diverging in a straight line. A tall 

 shrub, but in some situations reaching a hight of thirty to forty 

 feet. A native of Northern California, and northward to 

 British Columbia. AYood very hard and fine-grained, but not 

 plentiful enough of large size to be worthy of much attention. 



A. macrophyllum. — Large-leaved Maple, California Maple. — 

 Leaves very large, deeply five to seven-lobed, with very coarse 

 teeth. Flowers of a yellowish color, in a compact raceme. 

 Fruit hairy, with large, broad wings. A very large tree, 

 sometimes one hundred feet high, with stem five feet or more 



