Enemies: The _leopard moth_, a wood-boring insect, and the _cottony-maple scale_, a sucking insect. [Illustration: FIG. 26.--The Sugar Maple.] Value for planting: Grows too rapidly and is too short-lived to be durable. Commercial value: Its wood is soft, weak, and little used. Other characters: The _bark_ is light gray, smooth at first and scaly later on. The scales are free at each end and attached in the center. The _flowers_ appear before the leaves in the latter part of March or early April. [Illustration: FIG. 27.--Tapping the Sugar Maple.] Other common names: The silver maple is sometimes known as _soft maple_ or _white maple_. RED MAPLE (_Acer rubrum_) [Illustration: FIG. 28.--Terminal Twig of Silver Maple.] Distinguishing characters: The *bark is smooth and light gray*, like that of the beech, on the upper branches in older trees, and in young trees over the whole trunk. Fig. 30. The buds are in clusters, and the terminal twigs, Fig. 31, are quite red. [Illustration: FIG. 29.--Leaf of the Silver Maple.] Leaf: Whitish underneath with three-pointed lobes. Fig. 32. Form and size: A medium-sized tree with a narrow, round head. Range: Eastern North America. Soil and location: Prefers moist places. Enemies: Leaf blotches (_Rhytisma acerinum_) which, however, are not very injurious. Value for planting: Suitable as a shade tree for suburban streets. Its rich red leaves in the fall make it attractive for the lawn. [Illustration: FIG. 30.--Bark of the Red Maple.] Commercial value: Its wood is heavy, close-grained, and takes a good polish. Used for furniture and fuel. Other characters: The _bud_ is small, round, and red. The _flowers_ appear before the leaves are out in the early part of April. [Illustration: FIG. 31.--Twig of the Red Maple.] [Illustration: FIG. 32.--Leaf of the Red Maple.] Other common names: The red maple is sometimes known as _swamp maple_. [Illustration: FIG. 33.--Twig of Norway Maple.] Comparisons: The red maple is apt to be confused with the silver maple, but the latter can be distinguished by its turned-up twigs and scaly bark over the whole trunk of the tree, which presents a sharp contrast to the straight twig and smooth bark of the red maple. The latter has a bark similar to the beech, but its branches are _opposite_, while those of the beech are _alternate_. NORWAY MAPLE (_Acer platanoides_) Distinguishing characters: The bud, Fig. 33, is *oval and reddish-brown* in color; when taken off, a *milky juice exudes*. The bark is close. Fig. 34 [Illustration: FIG. 34.--Bark of Norway Maple.] Leaf: Like the leaf of the sugar maple but thicker in texture and darker in color. Fig. 35. Form and size: A tall tree with a broad, round head. Range: Europe and the United States. Soil and location: Will grow in poor soil. Enemies: Very few. Value for planting: One of the best shade trees. Commercial value: None.