SUGAR MAPLE. 28^ 
selves of his assistance, and introduce as much of 
his account as is sufficient for our purpose. 
The sugar maple tree grows in great quantities in 
the western countries of all the middle states of 
North America ; but those of New York and Penn- 
sylvania are said to yield the most sugar. They 
sometimes form thick groves of five or six acres ; 
but are generally interspersed with some of the 
common forest trees. They are chiefly found in 
the richest soils, and in the neighbourhood of the 
purest streams. 
The sugar maple is supposed to arrive at its full 
growth in the woods in twenty years ; it is then as 
tall as an oak, and from two to three feet in diame- 
ter ; the beautiful white blossom which it puts forth 
before a single leaf makes its appearance, is suf- 
ficient to distinguish it immediately from the rest 
of its companions. The sugar with which the 
small branches are impregnated affords the cattle 
and sheep a considerable share of nourishment du- 
ring the winter season; and, according to Dr. Rush, 
was what the domestic animals belonging to the first 
settlers chiefly subsisted upon in that inclement sea- 
son, before they were able to supply its place by the 
cultivation of forage. 
It is a happy circumstance that this maple tre?, 
far from being injured by tapping, is improved by 
it, so that a single tree has not only survived, 
but flourished, after forty-two tappings in the same 
number of years. The oftener it is tapped the 
more sugar is obtained from it ; and the doctor ob- 
