405 



woods, it was evident that a large quantity of fertile seed had 

 ripened earlier in the year. 



Prom an examination of the trees, however, it was evident that 

 they were not Ulmus campestris in the common acceptation of th. 

 term. The adult leaves were glabrous, except in the axils of the veins 

 beneath, as were also the shoots of the year. These characters 

 as well a3 the shape of the leaves point to an affinity with Ulmm 

 glabra. On the other hand strong sucker growths from near the 

 base of the trunk bore leaves that were pubescent on every part. 

 No clearly defined line separates U. glabra from U. campestris. 

 There are several forms that may aiTreasonably be pot under on.- 

 as the other. The Terling Place Elm appears to be U. glabra with 

 a certain leaning towards U. ca mmstris. 



The tree is quite common in the district. The hedgerows are 

 lined with it, it is the common tree of the woodland, and there i 

 a picturesque group in the village of Terling. In the open, it 

 forms a short, thick trunk, then divides into a number of spreading 

 limbs, the final subdivisions of the branch being long, thin and 

 pendulous. In some specimens this slender, pendant habit i 

 extraordinarily developed, giving the tree a singularly beautiful, 

 fountain-like appearance — an appearance quite distinct from the 

 more columnar, lumpy aspect of the ordinary U. campestris. 

 Grown closely together it makes fine straight timber such as the 

 forester loves. A specimen of the more spreading sort was 

 approximately 95 feet high and 15 feet in girth of trunk. 



Judging from the abundance of the tree in the district, and the 

 fact of its seeding freely (for from evidence supplied by residents, 

 this is a common occurrence), it appears reasonable to conclude that 

 this tree is a genuine native of this part of Essex. The presence of 

 young trees of various ages would have supported this view. But 

 their absence from the area inspected during a short visit is easily 

 accounted for by the ordinary garden operations of digging, 

 scything, &c. An examination of a wild, uncultivated patch of 

 woodland might reveal the presence iof older trees of seedling 

 origin. 



Interesting as is the abundant production of fertile seeds by the 

 elms at Terling, it leaves untouched the question of the sterinn oi 

 the true Ulmus campestris in England. A genuine instance oi 

 fertile seeding has yet to be recorded, if not discovered Seeing 

 that the tree seeds in France, there would appear to be nc > rfaaon 

 why it should not do so in Britain, provided the climatic conditio m 

 were suitable. It flowers freely every year, and one j ou a 

 imagine that some time or other, however rarely, a season su t . 

 for seed production would occur.. On the other h^d P o pi , .ou 

 for centuries by root-suckers alone may ^J^ST^ 

 functionally sterile strain. In connection with ^Jf^" 

 occurrence of seedling elm plants .at King's , Col ^j£*™& 

 deserves to be mentioned. On the top ot the J^™^ are 

 gateway leading into the " Backs " a number of young elms - 

 Rowing in the crevices, and there is every reason to believe , 

 they have grown there from seed blown from the ^ancient e 

 trees near. Judging from their foliage alone, ^^ ich fJ^ D ald 

 above and pubescent on both surfaces, these young trees xu ^ 

 appear to be U. campestris. But leaves alone do not prov 



