4S4 ULMUS CAMPESTRIS. 



tells US that, in Hampshire, " it is commonly called the witch hazell." The 

 llowcrs arc paler, rather larger, and occur in looser tntts, than those of most 

 other varieties. They have each Ironi five to seven ol)long-acnte segments, and 

 as many hroad, and rather heart-shaped, dark anthers. The samaras are broadly 

 (ihovate or elliptical, and almost orbicular, with shallow notches at the ends, not 

 c.Ktending half way to the seeds. This variety, although the most common elm 

 in Scotland and Ireland, and grows spontaneously in numerous places in ling- 

 land and other temperate parts of northern Europe, appears to be almost 

 unknown in France and Germany, as it is not mentioned by any of the 

 dcndrological writers of the two last-named countries. It is only within the 

 present century, however, that this tree has been much planted in Kngland, 

 though in Scotland and Ireland its timber has long been considered as next in 

 value to that of the oak; and it has, accordingly, been extensively introduced 

 into artificial plantations. Its wood weighs less than Jiat of the Ulnuis cam- 

 pestris, and is of a coarser grain. Nevertheless, it is used by the ship-builder, 

 the boat-builder, the pump and block-maker, the cartwright, the cabinet-maker, 

 and the coach-maker. The timber, according to Matthews, has great longitu- 

 dinal toughness; but, from the great quantity of sap-wood, and want of lateral 

 adhesion, it splits considerably when dry./ The summit of this variety, which 

 has a peculiar fan-like spread of branches, often tends, probably from the effects 

 of the prevailing winds, to one side, which is most perceptible in young trees. 

 Hence, when fully grown, the stem is generally slightly bent, which renders it 

 very appropriate for the tioor-timbers of vessels, being the only part of a ship, 

 except the bottom planks, to which it is applicable, as it soon decays above water. 

 'The tree," continues Matthews, " when it comes to some size, and the primary 

 branches being lopped off, like the common elm, and the oak, often throws out 

 a brush of twigs from the stem ; and these twigs impeding the transit of the sap, 

 the brush increases, and the stem thickens considerably, in consequence of a 

 wart-like deposit of wood forming at the base of the twigs. This excrescence, 

 when of size, after being seasoned in some cool, moist place, such as the north 

 re-entering angle of a building exposed to the dripping from the roof, forms a 

 richer veneer for cabinet-work than any other timber." But, even without this 

 process, the wood has often a curious laced appearance, which renders it fit for 

 dressing cases and other fancy works. The wood of this tree is said to be suita- 

 ble for the naves, poles, and shafts of gigs and other carriages; and from its not 

 splintering, as is the case with the oak and ash, in time of battle, it is used for the 

 swingle-trees of the carriages of cannon. It is also employed for the rollers of 

 printers and dyers ; for making wheel-barrows ; and for the handles of spades, 

 forks, and other implements of husbandry. And, according to Gerard it was 

 applied to various uses in ancient times. It was not only made into bows, but 

 its bark, which is so tough that it will strip or peel ofi:'from the wood from one 

 end of a bough to the other, without breaking, was made into ropes. Gilpin, in 

 speaking of this tree, says, that it " is, perhaps, generally more picturesque than 

 the common sort, as it hangs more negligently, though, at the same time with 

 this negligence, it loses, in a good degree, that happy surface for catching 

 masses of light, which we admire in the common elm. We observe, also, when 

 we see this tree in company with the common elm, that its bark is of a some- 

 what lighter hue." On this passage. Sir Thomas Dick Lauder observes, "We 

 are disposed to think that Mr. Gilpin hardly does justice to this elm. For our 

 own parts, we consider the wych, or Scottish elm, as one of the most beautiful 

 trees in our British sylva. The trunk is so bold and picturesque in form, cov- 

 ered, as it frequently is, with huge excrescences; the limbs and branches are so 

 free and graceful in their growth : and the foliage is so rich, without being leafy 

 or clumpy, as a whole: and the head is generally so finely massed, and yet so 



