FOREST TREES. i8i 



it rears its pillar-like stem, often reaching sixty or seventy feet free of 

 the forking branches ; in diameter frequently reaching four feet. . Ot~ 

 all our forest trees few surpass it in grandeur of size, and none in 

 elegance of shape. Free of the forest where it grows singly, and with 

 room to develop its branches, the Elm presents one of the most 

 charming features in our rural landscape, assuming a variety of 

 picturesque forms, not unfrequently reminding one of the grotesque 

 capital letters which are now often adopted to ornament the first words 

 in our illuminated books — an old fashion borrowed from the ancient 

 monkish manuscripts. 



The branches of the ^Vhite Elm divide at the crown of the trunk, 

 and rise almost of uniform thickness to form a level top. From the 

 outer boughs hang down slender leafy branchlets, which, like long 

 loosened tresses, wave with every motion of the wind in the most 

 graceful manner imaginable. 



Sometimes the whole trunk is clothed with leafy sprays, which give 

 to the tree the appearance of being clothed with some elegant climbing 

 plant. I have seen these light green sprays mingled with the rich dark 

 green foliage of the Virginian Creeper, forming a beautiful mass of light 

 and shade. In the Fall the magnificent crimson hues of the Creeper 

 touched by the frosts, harmonize in charming contrast with the fading 

 tints of the Elm, producing an effect of rare beauty. 



The wood of the White Elm is extremely tough and hard to hew, 

 and makes very poor fuel ; it will lie for years undecayed. In former 

 years, before the value of the forest trees was as well known as it is now, 

 the choppers considered the presence of many of these great Elms a sad 

 nuisance in clearing the fallows, as the wood is hard to burn, and the 

 trunks are hard to cut into lengths for logging — but now the Elm is 

 valued and used for many purposes, especially by the wheel-wright, and 

 the timber is exported to Europe for such purposes as require great 

 toughness and strength. 



Beside the White or Swamp Elm, we have two other kinds — the 

 Corky-barked or Rock Elm, and the Red Elm, The latter is better 

 known in Canada by its common name, Slippery Elm, which expresses 

 its qualities and is therefore well adapted to it. 



The Slippery or Red Elm — Uhiius fulva^ (Michx.) 



Is possessed of valuable medicinal qualities in addition to its uses as a 

 timber tree. The inner bark and twigs are mucilaginous, heahng and 



with eager ears, ami which doubtless had tlieir infliieni'i- in after years on the minds of two of those 

 enthusiastie auditors. Yet, strange to say, our fatlier, tliougli descended from the loyal Cotterels 

 and Pendils, and the no less loyal Stricklands, was no Jacobite, but a great admirer of William 

 the Third. It might be that his house had suffered from its adherence to the ungrateful Stuart 

 Kings, Charles II and .James II, but children are not always influenced in their historical prejudices 

 by the ojiinions of their parents, as it proved in this case. 



