4S0 ULMUS CAMPESTUIS. 



ii|>tinule of the dillVroiit kinds of dm to vary from soods, tlicrj is in truth, no cf.. 

 laiiity us to wluit are species iiud wluil varieties. On lliis subject, M. Baudril- 

 lart observes, in the " Uictionnaire dcs Eaux et Forets," that, "Any one who has 

 ever observed a bed of seedhng ohns, must liave noticed that some have large 

 leaves, and some small ones; some are early, and some late; some have smooth 

 bark, and some that which is rough ; and some .soft leaves and others very rough 

 ones. Some varieties are liigher than others. The branches take now a verti- 

 cal and again a horizontal direction. In short, while botanists describe, and cul- 

 tivators sow, they will find that nature sports with their Ial)ours, and seems to 

 delight in setting at fault alike the science of the one and the hopes ol the other. 

 Tiiis is always the case with plants that have long been submitted to the culti- 

 vation of man. The cares that are bestowed upon them, the different situations 

 in winch they are placed, and the difTerent kinds of treatment which they receive^ 

 appear to change their native habits." The quality and size of the timber of the 

 several varieties difier as much as the size of the leaves and the habit of their 

 growth. For instance, the timber of the Ulmus c. viminalis is of but little valuCj 

 from the slenderness of the trunk; while, in other varieties, the trees are subject 

 to decay at the joints of the branches, their bark splits into long, thin strips, and 

 the interior of their trunk decays. We shall first notice the principal varieties of 

 the common English elm, which are found in British nurseries; and next, the 

 kinds most nearly allied to them, and which are usually treated, by botanists, ao' 

 species. 



1. U. c. VULGARIS, Loudon. Common Field Elm. This variety, when grown ii: 

 an open space, is very twiggy, with a smooth, pale bark, and is sometimes of an 

 irregular growth, with almost horizontal branches. In some soils it is very sub- 

 ject to decay at the joints. The bark, which is lead-coloured, while young, splits 

 into long, thin strips with age. A bad variety to cultivate for timber. 



2. U. c. LATiFOLiA, Loudou. Brottd-leaved Field Elm, with broader leaves than 

 the species, which expand early in the spring. 



3. U. c. ALBA, Loudon. Whitish-barked Field Elm. The growth of this 

 variety is upright ; the old bark cracks in long irregular pieces, and becomes 

 very pale with age. The bark of the shoots, as are the foot-stalks of the leaves 

 is tinged with red. The leaves, which are shining, and doubly and deeply- 

 serrated, bear a very near resemblance to those of the Ulmus c. effusa. This 

 variety forms a valuable timber tree. 



4. U. c. ACUTiFOLiA, Loudoa. Acute-leaved Field Elm. The growth of this tree^ 

 during its early stages, very nearly resembles that of the last-named variety, but 

 IS stronger. The leaves, in old specimens, are more tapering, and the branches 

 more pendulous. Also a good timber tree. 



5. U. c. sTRicTA, Loudon. Upright-growing Field Elm or English Red Elm. 

 This variety is of a very rigid growth, and forms one of the most valuable timber 

 trees of the small-leaved kinds. The poles are of equal diameter throughout. 



6. U. c. viRENs, Loudon. Sub-evergreen Field Elm or Kidbrook Elm. This 

 variety is almost evergreen in a mild winter ; and, as such, it is the most orna- 

 mental tree of the genus. The bark is red, and the tree is of a spreading habit. 

 This, like the last-mentioned kind, grows well upon chalky soils ; but it is not to 

 be depended upon as a timber tree, because, in some autumns, the shoots are 

 killed by frost. 



7. U. c. coRNUBiENsis, Loudon. Cornish Field Elm, an upright-branched tree, 

 with small, strongly veined coriaceous leaves. The branches are bright-brown, 

 smooth, rigid, erect, and very compact. It attains a very great height, with a 

 somewhat narrow head; and in the climate of London, it is a week or two later 

 in ".oming into leaf than the species, Di. Lindley mentions a sub-variety, with 



