94 
M A P L Ë S. 
useful in the arts and in domestic economy. For more particular informa- 
tion, I must refer the reader to the descriptions of the respective species.* 
\Propagation and culture. The Jlceràceæ prefer a free, deep, loamy soil, 
rich, rather than sterile, and neither wet nor very dry. The situation that 
suits them best is one that is sheltered, and shady rather than exposed. 
They are seldom found on the north sides of lofty mountains, or on moun- 
tains at all, except among other trees ; but in the plains they are found by 
themselves. Though the species only attain perfection ,in favorable soils 
and situations, they will spring up and live in any situation whatever. 
They are chiefly propagated from seeds ; but some sorts are increased by 
layers, cuttings of the shoots or roots, or by budding or grafting. The seeds 
of most of the species ripen in October, and may be gathered by hand, or 
shaken from the tree, when the keys begin to turn brown. The maturity 
of the seed may be proved by opening the key, and observing if the cotyl- 
« 
edons are green, succulent and fresh ; if the green coloris wanting, the seeds 
are good for nothing. The seeds may either be sown in autimirf or in 
spring; the latter is preferable where moles abound, as they are very fond 
of the seeds. Sown in spring, they come up in five or six weeks, with the 
exception of Acer campestre^ which never grow till the second or third 
year. The seeds should not be covered with more than from a quarter to 
half an inch of soil. The surface of the ground in which they are sown 
may be advantageously shaded with leaves, fronds of firs, or straw. 
The Acer argenteum, or Silvery-leaved, and Acer ruhrum^ or Scarlet 
Maple, perfect their seeds in May, and these should be sown immediately 
after having been collected ; they will vegetate directly, and produce fine 
plants the first season, if kept free from weeds. The seeds of the former 
do not keep well till spring.] 
* [For a large additional list of Maples, see Nuttall’s Supplement, Vol. 2, p. 77, et se.q. Many 
of these are deserving of the attention of our planters ; especially the large leaved Maple, some- 
times 90 feet high, with leaves nearly a foot in diameter, affording an impervious end complete 
shade. See also Emerson’s Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts, p. 481,] 
