and stands
well. It bends readily when steamed, and takes stain and paint well.
Used in cooperage, for siding, for panelling and finishing lumber in
house, car and shipbuilding, etc., also in the manufacture of toys,
culinary woodenware, and backing for drawers. Most common in the
southern Alleghanies, but distributed from western New York to
southern Illinois, south through central Kentucky and Tennessee to
Alabama, and throughout Arkansas.

MAPLE

Wood heavy, hard, strong, stiff, and tough, of fine texture,
frequently wavy-grained, this giving rise to "curly" and "blister"
figures which are much admired. Not durable in the ground, or when
exposed. Maple is creamy white, with shades of light brown in the
heartwood, shrinks moderately, seasons, works, and stands well, wears
smoothly, and takes a fine polish. The wood is used in cooperage, and
for ceiling, flooring, panelling, stairway, and other finishing lumber
in house, ship, and car construction. It is used for the keels of
boats and ships, in the manufacture of implements and machinery, but
especially for furniture, where entire chamber sets of maple rival
those of oak. Maple is also used for shoe lasts and other form blocks;
for shoe pegs; for piano actions, school apparatus, for wood type in
show bill printing, tool handles, in wood carving, turnery, and scroll
work, in fact it is one of our most useful woods. The maples are
medium-sized trees, of fairly rapid growth, sometimes form forests,
and frequently constitute a large proportion of the arborescent
growth. They grow freely in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, and are
particularly luxuriant in Canada and the northern portions of the
United States.

=57. Sugar Maple= (_Acer saccharum_) (Hard Maple, Rock Maple). Medium-
to large-sized tree, very common, forms considerable forests, and is
especially esteemed. The wood is close-grained, heavy, fairly hard and
strong, of compact structure. Heartwood brownish, sapwood lighter
color; it can be worked to a satin-like surface and take a fine
polish, it is not durable if exposed, and requires a good deal of
seasoning. Medullary rays small but distinct. The "curly" or "wavy"
varieties furnish wood of much beauty, the peculiar contortions of the
grain called "bird's eye" being much sought after, and used as veneer
for panelling, etc. It is used in all good grades of furniture,
cabinetmaking, panelling, interior finish, and turnery;