The method of PROPAGATION is the fame as that of the Sycamore; and, like it, the Maple will grow in almost fituation.

any foil and

3. The ASH-LEAVED MAPLE grows to a large timber-tree : its leaves are of a pale green, and well adapted to give variety of tint; but HANBURY fays, this tree is not proper to be planted in expofed fituations, the branches being fubject to be split off by the winds. Its ufes are fimilar to thofe of the Syca

more.

It may be PROPAGATED from the keys, which are perfected in this country; or by layering; or from cuttings, planted in a moist fituation, in autumn.

4. The NORWAY MAPLE. This also grows to a large timber. tree. Its leaves are of a fhining green colour, and are as large or larger than those of the Sycamore; their edges are acutely and more beautifully indented; they are not fo liable to be eaten by infects in the fummer; and "in the autumn they die to a golden yellow colour, which caufes a delightful effect at that feafon, when the different tints of the decaying vegetable world are difplayed." The flowers are alfo beautiful; they come out early in the fpring, are of a fine yellow colour, and fhew themselves to advantage before the leaves come out. They are frequently fucceeded by keys, which fometimes arrive at maturity in this climate. There is a Variety with ftriped leaves.

The Norway Maple may be PROPAGATED from feed, as the Sycamore; it may also be raised by layers, and cuttings, planted in a moift foil.

5. MONTPELIER MAPLE grows to about twenty feet high, and is a very beautiful tree. The leaves are compofed of three lobes, are of a fhining green, a thickish fubftance, and retain their verdure later in the year than moft of the other forts. The flowers come out in the spring, but have very little beauty; their blow is foon over, and fometimes they are fucceeded by feeds, which come to perfection in our gardens.

6. CRETAN MAPLE. This grows to about the height of the former. The leaves are downy, compofed of three lobes, and grow oppofite to each other on long downy footftalks. The flowers come out in the spring, are inconfiderable to the florist, and are very seldom fucceeded by good feeds in England.

7. SCARLET-FLOWERING Maple. Of this there are two forts; called, 1. Virginian Scarlet-flowering Maple; and, 2. Sir Charles Wager's Maple. Both of these are propagated for the fake of the flowers, which are of a scarlet colour, and come out carly in the fpring. The leaves are composed each of five sharppointed lobes, which are flightly indented or ferrated: They are fmooth, of a pale green on their upper furface, glaucous * underneath; and they grow on long, fimple, taper, reddifh footftalks. The flowers come out in clusters from the fide of the branches. They appear in April, and the feeds ripen in June. The fort called Sir Charles Wager's produces larger clufters of flowers than the others; on which account it is in most esteem.

8. SUGAR MAPLE is a large-growing tree; will arrive at the height of forty feet; and has broad thin leaves, divided into five principal parts; which are again indented or cut at the edges into feveral acute fegments. Their furface is fmooth, of a light green colour, whitish underneath; and they grow on pretty long footstalks. The flowers come out in the fpring, about the time of the Norway Maple; and they are fucceeded by long keys, which fometimes ripen in England. In America, the inhabi. tants tap this tree in the fpring, boil the liquor, and the fœces afford a useful fugar. The Sycamore, the Afh-leaved and the Norway Maples alfo abound with a faccharine juice, from which there is no doubt but a useful sugar might be prepared.

9. TARTARIAN MAPLE will grow to upwards of twenty feet high. The leaves are heart-shaped, undivided, and their edges are unequally ferrated. The flowers come out from the wings of the leaves, in longifh bunches; they appear early in the spring; and fometimes are fucceeded by ripe fecds in our gardens.

10. MOUNTAIN MAPLE. The talks of this fhrub are flender, covered with a whitifh bark, fend forth feveral red branches, and grow about fifteen feet high. The leaves are three-lebed, pointed, and are unequally and sharply ferrated. The flowers come out in longifh bunches, in the fpring: They are of a greenish yellow colour; and are fucceeded by feeds which (like those of the Norway Maple) generally fall off before they are ripe. Thefe forts are all PROPAGATED, 1. by the feeds; but as they

Glaucous, of a fea green colour.

do

do not always ripen in this country, the best way will be to procure them from the places where they naturally grow. A cool fhady part of the feminary fhould be appropriated for the purpofe; the mould fhould be made fine; beds fhould be marked out four feet wide, and in length proportionable to the quantity; and in these the feeds should be regularly fown, fifting over them about half an inch of the finest mould. When the plants come up, they must be kept clean from weeds, and frequently watered; and this work must be duly attended to all fummer. The fpring following, the strongest may be drawn out, and planted in the nursery, in rows two feet asunder, and at the distance of a foot from each other in the rows; leaving the others in the feminary to gain ftrength. The spring following they also must receive the fame culture; and in the nursery they may remain, with no other trouble than keeping the ground clean from weeds in the fummer, digging between the rows in the winter, and taking off all strong and irregular fide-fhoots, till they are planted out. Trees raised from feeds will grow faster, and arrive at greater height, than those raised from layers; but they will not produce fuch quantities of flowers; which makes the latter method more eligible for those who want these plants for a low shrubbery. 2. By layers all the fpecies of this genus are to be propagated; though it is never practifed for the Common Maple and the Sycamore. The young fhoots may be at any time laid down in the autumn, winter, or early in the fpring. By the autumn following, they will have struck root, and become good plants; when the strongest may be fet out in the places where they are to remain; whilst the weakest may be planted in the nurfery, like the feedlings, for a year or two, to gain strength. 3. By cuttings also these trees are to be propagated: But this method is chiefly practised on the Ash-leaved and Norway Maples, which more readily take root this way. The cuttings should be the bottom parts of the last year's fhoots: They should be taken off early in October, and planted in rows in a moist shady place. The fpring and fummer following, they must be duly watered as often as dry weather makes it neceffary, and be kept clean from weeds. By the autumn they will be fit to remove into the nurfery; though if the cuttings are not planted too close, they may remain in their fituation for a year or two longer, and then be fet out finally, without the trouble of being previously planted in the nursery.

E 4

nursery. 4. By budding, grafting, and inarching likewife Maples are to be propagated: But the other methods being more eligible, these are never practifed, except for the variegated forts and the large broad-leaved kind. The latter is to be continued no otherwife than by budding it on stocks of the common Sycamore; for the feeds, though fo large themselves, when fown afford you only the common Sycamore in return.

Seeds of the variegated kinds, however, when fown will produce variegated plants in return; which renders the propagation of these forts very expeditious, where plenty of feeds may be had. Where these are not to be obtained, in order to propagate these varieties by budding, let fome plants of the common Sycamore, one year old, be taken out of the feminary, and fet in the nurfery in rows a yard afunder, and the plants about a foot and a half distance from each other in the rows: Let the ground be kept clean from weeds all fummer, and be dug, or, as the gardeners call it, turned in, in the winter; and the fummer following the stocks will be of a proper fize to receive the buds, which should be taken from the most beautifully-striped branches. The best time for this work is August; because if it is done earlier, the buds will shoot the fame fummer; and when this happens, a hard winter will infallibly kill them. Having, therefore, budded your stocks the middle or latter end of Auguft, with the eyes or buds fronting the north, early in October take off the bass matting, which before this time will have confined the bark and pinched the bud, but not fo as to hurt it much. Then cut off the stock just above the bud, and dig the ground between the rows. The fummer following, keep the ground clean from weeds; cut off all natural fide-buds from the ftock as they come out; and by autumn, if the land is good, your buds will have shot forth, and formed themselves into trees five or fix feet high. They may be then removed into the places where they are defigned to remain ;" or a few of them only may be drawn out, leaving the others to be trained up for larger standards, to ferve for planting out in open places, or fuch other purposes as shall be wanting.

The Striped Norway Maple fhould be budded on stocks of its own kind; for on these they take beft, and both kinds are not very liable to run away from their colours. Variegated plants in general must be planted in poor, hungry, gravelly, or fandy foils, to feed the difeafe which occafions thefe beautiful ftripes,

and

and cause it to be more powerful. But these trees fhew their tripes in greater perfection in a good foil: The plant, though in fickness, has the appearance of health; the shoots are vigorous and strong; the leaves are large, lefs liable to be hurt by infects; and the stripes appear more perfect, natural, and delightful, than those on stunted trees growing on a poor foil.

ESCULU S.

LINNEAN Clafs and Order, Heptandria Monogynia: Each flower contains feven or eight males and one female *: There are only two SPECIES:

1. ESCULUS Hippo-caftanum: The HORSE-CHESNUT; a deciduous tree; native of Afia.

2. ESCULUS Pavia: The SCARLET ESCULUS, or SCARLETFLOWERING HORSE-CHESNUT; a tall deciduous shrub; native of Carolina, the Brazils, and several parts of the East.

1. HORSE-CHESNUT. This is a large noble-looking tree; growing to seventy or eighty feet high, and throwing out its branches to a confiderable width; yet forming a close thickset head; which, if left to nature, takes a moft beautifully-ftriking parabolic form. Its leaves are large, palmated, and of a darkgreen colour: they appear very early in the fpring; their buds fometimes beginning to fwell fo early as Christmas, and anticipate the pleasures of the coming fpring. Its flowers are fingularly beautiful, ftanding in large spikes thick among the leaves. This tree is peculiar in a quick formation of its fhoots, which are frequently perfected in less than three weeks from the time of foliation; in which time," fays MILLER, "I have meafured shoots a foot and a half long with their leaves fully expanded." For fingle trees the Horfe-Chefnut stands, amongst the ornamental tribe, next to the oak; and in the spring of the year, when its flowers are out, we know no tree equal to it in

The Efculus is one of the defective genera of Linneus. The Pavie having eight males in each flower, belongs properly to the eighth Class.

grandeur.