ll you can about the uses that are made of maple wood.

_To the teacher._--The sugar maple is the most highly prized of our
native trees for ornament and shade. It grows fairly rapidly and
becomes a goodly-sized tree within twenty years after it is planted. The
symmetrical dome-shaped crown and the dense foliage of restful dark
green give to it a fine appearance. It is hardy and has few insect
pests, and its value is enhanced by the abundant yield of rich sap.

As a commercial tree it has few superiors; the wood is hard and durable
and takes a high polish. It is used for flooring, furniture, boat
building, for the wooden parts of machinery and tools, and for making
shoe-pegs and shoe lasts. As fuel maple wood is surpassed only by
hickory.

MAPLE LEAVES

CLASS-ROOM LESSON

The pupils bring to the class leaves of the sugar maple. Each pupil is
provided with a leaf and makes direct observations under the guidance of
the teacher.

~Observations.~--Colour, dark green on the upper surface, lighter green on
the lower surface. Surface smooth and shiny.

Shape: star-shaped, broader than long.

Lobes: usually five, often three; each lobe has usually two large teeth.

Base has a heart-shaped notch; petiole long and slender, usually red.

Veins are stiff and run out to the points of the teeth.

Distribute leaves of the _red_ maple and ask the pupils to note the
general resemblance. Next ask them to compare the leaves as to shape,
texture, and teeth on the margin.

Ask the pupils to find red maple trees and also to find maples with
leaves that are different from those of the red maple and those of the
sugar maple.

Make a collection of maple leaves when they are in autumn colours. (See
Collections, page 33, in General Method.)

_To the teacher._--The leaves of the red maple are longer than broad,
and are not so smooth and shiny as the leaves of the sugar maple. There
are numerous "saw teeth" on the margins of the lobes. The silver maple,
with leaves having silver-white under surfaces, is another common
species.

A lesson similar to that on leaf studies may be based on the fruits
(keys) of the maples.

The oak, ash, elm, beech, or birch may be taken up in lessons similar to
those outlined for the study of the maple.

CORRELATIONS

With literature and reading: By interpreting "The Maple", _The Ontario
Readers, Third Book_, page 179;

With art: By sketching the tree and reproducing the autumn leaves in
colour