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in form, covered as it usually is, with large 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 well broken, as to render it one of the noblest of park trees ; and when it 

 grows wildly amid the rocky scenery of its native Scotland, there is no tree that 

 assumes so great or so pleasing a variety of character." (Lauder's edition of 

 Gilpin's "Forest Scenery"). 



The Wych Elm in rural districts is very frequently pollarded, and when 

 often treated in this way, the head in course of time becomes very large, and 

 assumes a singularly gnarled grotesque appearance. It sends forth branches 

 abundantly wherever cut, like the Hydra of old : 



"Though wounds and hatchet cuts conspire, 

 It scorns them all and mounts the higher. " 



Some of its seedlings have become so generally known as to require a 

 brief notice here. 



The Huntingdon, Chichester, or American Elm (Ulmus montana vegcta) 

 for they are all one, is a seedling from the Wych Elm, and perhaps the most 

 widely cultivated of all of them. It grows rapidly, is very ornamental and 

 produces good timber ; qualities which have rendered it a great favourite with 

 nurserymen. 



The very ornamental "Weeping Elm ( Ulmus m. penduJa) is another very 

 beautiful variety, and has, moreover, a local interest for us. It was raised in 

 1810 in Smith's Nursery at Worcester, from seeds obtained from a Nottiugham- 

 shire tree. Mr. Andrew Knight, of Downton Castle, grew some of the seedlings, 

 and one of them proved to be so beautiful a tree with its pendulous or weeping 

 branches, that it became celebrated as the "Downton Ebn," and it is said that 

 all the Weeping Elms of the present day owe their origin to tliis very tree. 



There is another well-known variety, the Smooth leaved elm (Ulmus m. 

 glabra), which when with larger leaves (Ulmus m. g. major) is called the 

 Canterbury elm. The Scampston elm (Yorkshire) and others too numerous to 

 mention. 



The Wormsley Grange or Byford Elm was probably a variety raised from 

 the Scotch elm seed, by Mr. Knight of Downton. I am \inaware of the nature 

 of its peculiarities, or whether any specimens of this tree exist at the present 

 time. Dr. Lindley thought this, and also the Black elm of Ireland, worthy of 

 being considered not as varieties but as separate species. 



The Wych elm, and probably the same rule applies more or less to most 

 of its varieties, likes best the Hglit, rich loam of an alluvial soil, which must be 

 well watered and well drained. It %oiU grow and adapt itself to many soils and 

 situations, but it really requires a good, hght and rich soil, and will not thrive 

 luxuriantly in any other. 



