1913] The Ottawa Naturalist. 35 



Urticace^e. 



The American Elm, Ulmus americana, is deservedly the best 

 known and the most popular of all our shade trees. Whether in 

 the city or the country it is equally well known and equally 

 useful and beautiful. It possesses many advantages. It can be 

 readilv transplanted, and stands a great amount of cutting and 

 prunin'g. It thrives on almost any kind of soil. It is a fairly 

 rapid grower, and soon spreads out in a broad umbrageous out- 

 line. Its lower limbs may be pruned away, leaving plenty of space 

 for air and sunshine, and not losing in beauty of outline. 



Besides the Common White Elm, there are several other 

 interesting and valuable species in the city. 



The Cork or Rock Elm, U. racemosa, is a valuable timber 

 tree and is commonly planted. Perhaps it is too common, for 

 the large corky ridges on its lower branches have a rather un- 

 gainly effect. The corky ridges on the lower branches are 

 characteristic and probably more pronounced in the city than 

 in its native soil. 



The Slipperv Elm, U. fulva, probably also grows in the city. 

 It is a fortunate thing for its life that it is not so easily recognized. 

 Its limbs are more rigid and divide at a slightly greater angle 

 than the common elm. Its terminal branches and twigs do not 

 have the outward and downward sweep that is so characteristic 

 of the common White Elm. The simplest way of identifying this 

 elm is to bite and moisten a twig with the saliva. The mucil- 

 aginous or slipperv quality is then easily recognized by rubbing 

 between the fingers. 



The English Elm. U. campestris, and the Scotch Elm, 

 U. glabra, are also planted about the city. There is one English 

 Elm near the arcade on Parliament Hill. On Gloucester St. 

 between Bank and O'Connor streets, there are several Scotch 

 Elms, U. glabra. 



The Hackberrv, Celtis occidentalis, is mentioned more for 

 the wish than the fact of its growing here. There was one tree 

 growing along the banks of the Rideau River, in Ottawa South, 

 but it perished last year in the march of city growth. There is 

 no reason why this tree should not grow well along the Driveway. 

 The hackberrv has the outline of the elm, but it is out of its 

 range here and rarely produces its fruit so far north. 



Red Mulherrv, Moms rubra, grows on Lisgar St., a few doors 

 east from Bank St., on the south side. It is probably the only 

 specimen in the city. The bark is scalv, and has a reddish tinge. 



