Maple, especially sugar-maple (Fig. 248) has all the qualities necessary for flooring, paneling, and other interior finishing. It is highly valued also for the keels of vessels. As a material for furniture "curly" grained or "bird's eye" varieties are in great demand. Its fine texture and uniform hardness adapt it also for shoe-lasts and other form blocks, for shoe-pegs, showbill type, parts of pianos and other musical instruments, and for use in carving and turnery.

Fig. 248. Sugar maple (Acer Saccharum, Maple Family, Aceraceoe). A, leaf. B, flower cluster. C, staminate flower. D, same, cut vertically. E, perfect flower, with part of calyx removed. F, same, cut vertically. G, fruit. (Pax.) Tree growing about 36 m. tall; bark grayish; leaves dark green above; flowers greenish yellow; fruit greenish. Native home, Eastern North America.

Fig. 248.-Sugar-maple (Acer Saccharum, Maple Family, Aceraceoe). A, leaf. B, flower-cluster. C, staminate flower. D, same, cut vertically. E, perfect flower, with part of calyx removed. F, same, cut vertically. G, fruit. (Pax.)-Tree growing about 36 m. tall; bark grayish; leaves dark green above; flowers greenish yellow; fruit greenish. Native home, Eastern North America.