MAY. 
of sledSj, \^'hich are curved up at one end to run on the snow. 
The wood is handsome^ of a bright^ changeable,, satiny lustre^, 
with many straight lines radiating from the centre outwards^ 
across the grain ; these are lustrous, and in one light look 
darker^ and in another lighter than the rest of the wood : 
these are the medullary rays. It is used for the finer kinds 
of furniture^ and when varnished^, looks very beautiful ; it is 
hard and heavy^, but it is not durable. Trees are occasion- 
ally found;, the wood of which is filled with little knots or 
eyes, which make what is called curled^ or Bird's-eye Maple, 
and which is much prized in cabinet work. This appearance 
is accidental^ and does not indicate a different species. I 
have often seen logs of firewood which were curled^ some lesSj 
others more ; and sometimes the eyed part extends only a 
few inches, all the rest being as usual. 
C. — Here is a Soft Maple : it is covered with little red 
blossoms^ so thick as to hide the branches : how very beau- 
tiful it is^ and what a delightful fragrance it diffuses around ! 
F. — The Soft Maple^ whether in blossom or in foliage is^ 
like its congener^ a beautiful tree. It flowers several days 
before it leafs^ and the blossoms individually considered are 
both handsome and fragrant : they grow in thick spikes or 
clusters on the twigs^ and have a very rich appearance. 
This is a lofty tree, but with us it does not attain either the 
size or the height of the sugar maple. It very much resem- 
bles that species, but it may be distinguished from it by its 
trunk being more profusely marked with broad, pale yellow 
patches. In clearings^ it usually divides at the ground^ and 
takes the form of several small trees, growing in a clump ; 
the bark in such situations is of a darker colour and smoother 
texture than when it grows in the woods. It affects marshy 
situations, the sides of rivers, brooks, &c. but is not found 
with us in any great abundance. The wood is soft and too 
full of sap to make good fuel : indeed it will scarcely burn of 
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