CHAI’. or.

r/LMA'cE.^.

r/'LMUS.

1379

VOrme & pctites Feuilles, I’Orme male, VOrme pyramidal, the small-leaved Elm , whichalways grows erect, with the branches close to the trunk.

VOrme a tres-grandes Feuilles, VOrme fetnellc, VOrme de Trianon, the large-leaved Elm ,the branches of which spread horizontally. This elm, says Du Hamel , branches much,and furnishes kneed timber, which is very useful to the wheelwright. Its wood, how-ever, is not so strong as that of the twisted elm.

VOrme de Hollande & grandes Feuilles panachdes, the variegated Dutch Elm, has broadvariegated leaves.

VOrme tortillard , ? U. tortnbsa l.odd. Cat. (see p. 13760, the twisted Elm.—This is a very dis-tinct variety; and it is one which very frequently comes true from seed. Its leavesare of a very deep green, and about the middle size; its trunk is marked with alternateknots and hollows; and the fibres of its wood arc all twisted and interlaced together.This kind of elm presents a very singular appearance when it becomes old, as a numberof knots, or bosses, appear to surround its trunk. It produces but few seeds, and someyears none at all. Its seeds are, also, much smaller than those of the common elm. It isthe best of all the varieties for the use of wheelwrights; and particularly for the spokesof wheels. This elm is very much cultivated in France , atVarennes, in the nurseriesnear Meaux , and at Amiens . On the road from Meaux to Paris , there is a greatnumber of these trees. Michaux mentions the twisted elm in his North AmericanSylva , 3. p 96., and strongly recommends it to both English and American planters.

Description, Sfc. The common English elm is, perhaps, more frequently tobe found in the parks and pleasure-grounds of the English nobility and gentry,than any other tree, except the oak. It is of a tall upright habit of growth,with a straight trunk, 4 ft. or 5 ft. in diameter when fully grown, and attainingthe height of 60 ft. or 70 ft. or upwards. It has rather slender branches,which are densely clothed with small deep green leaves, somewhat shining onthe upper surface, though rough to the touch. These leaves are broad in themiddle, and contracted towards each end; being, like those of all the otherspecies of elms, unequal at the base, and doubly dentated; and having astrongly marked midrib, with other equally prominent lateral ribs proceedingfrom it on each side. The colour ot the flowers, which appear before theleaves, varies from a dark red to a dull purple. According to Evelyn, thecommon elm will produce a load of timber in about 40 years: it does not,however, cease growing, if planted in a favourable situation, neither too drynor too moist, till it is 100 or 150 years old ; and it will live several centuries.Young trees, in the climate of London , will attain the height of 25 ft. or30 ft. in ten years, of which there are living proofs in the London Horti-cultural Society’s Garden. According to Dr. Walker (Nat. Hist., p, 72.), theEnglish elm, when planted beside the Scotch elm, grows much faster, andproduces a greater quantity of timber in the same space of time; though thattimber is inferior in colour, hardness, and durability.

Geography. The small-leaved elm is a native of the middle and south ofEurope , the west of Asia , and Barbary. In France and Spain , it is found ingreat abundance; and many botanists consider it a native of England. If nottruly indigenous, it appears to have been introduced at a very early period,probably by the Romans, and to have been propagated by art; for, as Pliny observes, it seldom bears seeds to any considerable extent. According tokir J. E. Smith, it is found wild in woods and hedges in the southern partsof England, particularly in the New Forest, Hampshire , and in Sussex andNorfolk. (See Eng . FI., ii. p. 20.)

History. The common field elm was known to the ancient Greeks, as itappears evident from Pliny mentioning that the Greeks had two distinct kinds,one inhabiting the mountains, and the other the plains. The Romans, Pliny adds, had four kinds; the mountain, or tall, elm (CTlmus vltinia, our U.campestris); the Gaulic elm ; the elm of Italy , which had its leaves in tufts; andthe wild elm. The elm was scarcely known, as an ornamental tree, in France ,till the time of Francis I.; and it appears to have been first planted there toadorn public walks, about 1540. (See Diet, des Faux et Forets, ii. p. 453.) Itwas afterwards planted largely, particularly in churchyards, by Sully, in thereign of Henry IV. ; and, by desire of that king, who, according to Evelyn,expressed a wish to have all the highways in France planted with it, it soonecame the tree most generally used for promenades and hedgerows. Many° 11 Jfsf* e ™ te A at the period of the first French revolution, which wererailed Sully or anc j jj enr j Q ua tre; names that had been given to them

Pparently to commemorate their illustrious planters. Bose states that he

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