EUROPEAN OR FIELD ELM. 4^1 



smaller leaves, wliich he calls U. stricta parvifolia; and Messrs. Loddiges, two 

 others, under the names of U. stricta aspeia, and U. stricta crispa. 



8. U. c. SARNiENsis, London. Jersey Field El/n, a free-growing variety, diftering 

 bnt very little from the species. 



9. U. c. TORTUOSA, Loudon. Twisted wooded Field Elm ; Orme tortillard, of the 

 French. This variety, which is very distinct, frequently comes true from seeds. 

 Its leaves are of a very deep-green, and about a medium size. The trinik is 

 marked with alternate knots and hollows; and the fibres of the wood are all 

 twisted and interlaced together. This tree presents a very singular appearance 

 when it becomes old, as a number of knots (bosses) appear to surround its trimk. 

 It produces but few seeds, and some years not any. it is considered, in France, 

 as the best of all the varieties of elm for the use of wheelwrights; and particu- 

 larly for the hnbs of wheels. On the road from Paris to Meaux, there are to be 

 seen a great number of these trees. 



lU. U. c. FOLiis VARiEGATis, Loudou. Variegated-leaved Field Elm ; Silcer-leaved 

 Ebn, having leaves striped with white, and, in spring, is very ornamental. 



IL U. c. BETUL^FOLiA, Loudou. Bircli-leaved Field Elm, with leaves somewhat 

 resembling those of the Betula alba. 



12. U. c. VLMiNALis, Loudon. Tiriirg'{/-braiic/ied Field Elm, hvivrng small leaves. 

 and numerous slender twig-like branches. It is a very distinct and elegant variety, 

 and is easily recognized both in summer and in winter. In some stages of its 

 growth, its foliage is frequently mistaken for a variety of birch. It is quite use- 

 less for timber, but forms an ornamental tree, with a cliaracter of its own. 



13. U. c. PARVIFOLIA, Loudon. Small-leaved Field Elm ; Ulmus parvifolia, of 

 Jacquin, Willdenow, and others; a tree, according to Pallas, who mentions 

 several varieties of it, very common in all tlie woods of the south of Russia, 

 and varying in height from that of a middle-sized tree to that of a diminutive 

 shrub, according to the soil and climate in which it grows. It is very plentiful 

 about Caucasus; and, in passing through Siberia, it gradually becomes less mul- 

 tiplied; but occurs again about Lake Baikal, where the inhabitants use the 

 leaves as a substitute for tea. The wood of this variety, when it assumes a 

 tree-like form, is said to be very hard and tough ; and is veined with transverse 

 lines. The root is also beautifully variegated, and is used by the turner and 

 cabinet-maker. One of the sub-varieties, mentioned by Pallas, has the bark 

 -somewhat fungous or corky ; another has the branches slender, wand-like, and 

 of a whitish-gray colour. In rocky, mountainous surfaces, the branches are 

 thick and short; but, in sandy soils, the trees are all small, with slender shoots. 



14. U. c. PLANiFOLLA, Loudou. Pl/iiw-leaved Field Elm, a handsome, small 

 tree, closely resembling the last-named variety. 



1.5. U. c. CHiNENSis, Loudon. Chinese Field Elm; Orme iiain, The de l' Abbe Gal- 

 lois, of the French. This variety forms a low bush, introduced into Britain from 

 China, but when is uncertain. " Notwithstanding," says Mr. Loudon, the cir- 

 cumstance of its being kept in green-houses in some cases, and retaining its leaves 

 there through the winter, we cannot consider it as anything el.se than a variety of 

 U. campcstris. We arc confirmed in this opinion by Mr. jNIaiii. who brought homo 

 some plants of this sort from China, and tbund them to stand the rigoin- of our 

 winters in the garden of his friend, the Rev. Mr. Xorris, of Grove street. Hack- 

 ney. We believe it to be the same sort which is sometimes imported from China, 

 in the form of a miniature old tree, planted in a ( Miina vase. While retained in 

 these vases, and spariogly supplied with nourishment, it maintains its stunted 

 figure ; bnt planted out in a free soil, iu a favourable situation, in a year or two, 

 it will make slioots five or six feet long, as may be seen in the garden of the 

 London Horticultural Society. The manner in which the Chinese jirocurc thesr 

 miniature trees is, bv ringing the e.xtremities of the branches of old trees, au'* 



oi 



