170 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
scenes, they can be employed to advantage by intermingling 
them with the more striking and majestic forms of the oak, 
etc., where variety and contrast is desired. The European 
sycamore, which is also a maple, has a coarser foliage, and 
more of strength in its growth and appearance : it perhaps 
approaches nearer in general expression and effect to the 
plane tree, than to our native maples. 
It is unnecessary for us to recommend this tree for avenues, 
or for bordering the streets of cities, as its general prevalence 
in such places sufficiently indicates its acknowledged claims 
for beauty, shade, and shelter. It bears pruning re- 
markably well, and is easily transplanted, even when of 
large size, from its native woods or swamps. The finest trees, 
however, are produced from seed. 
The Sugar maple, (Acer saccharinum ,) is a very abun- 
dant tree in the northern states and the Canadas, where it 
sometimes forms immense forests. The bark is white ; the 
leaves four or five inches broad, and five-lobed; varying, 
however, in size according to the age of the tree. The flow- 
ers are small, yellowish, and suspended by slender drooping 
peduncles. The seed is contained in two capsules united at 
the base, and terminated in a membranous wing ; they are 
ripe in October. From certain parts of the trunks of old 
Sugar maples, the fine wood called bird's-eye maple is taken, 
which is so highly prized by the cabinet-makers ; and the 
sap, which flows in abundance from holes bored in the stem 
of the tree early in March, produces the well-known maple 
sugar. This can be clarified, so as to equal that of the cane 
in flavour and appearance ; and it has been demonstrated that 
the planting of maple orchards, for the production of sugar, 
would be a profitable investment. 
