84 



" The tall abounding elm that grows 

 In hedgerows up and down, 

 In field, and forest, copse, and park, 



And in the peopled town. 



With colonies of noisy rooks 



Tliat nestle on its crown." 



Hood. 



The Vlinus campcstris, the Cojiimon, Small-leaved, or English Elm, which 

 we all know so well — the tree which gives so much of its character to the English 

 landscape — the tree which has so thoroughly established itself here and been 

 so widely planted by Englishmen in other countries as to have gained for itself 

 the name of "English," is the chief object of the present paper, for to this 

 kind belong almost all the remarkable Elms in this county. 



There is no record of its introduction into England. It has been known 

 from time immemorial in our plains and valleys, but in mountainous or 

 iuaccessable districts — as throughout "Wales — it is not a common tree. Old 

 Aubrey, in his "History of Wiltshu'e," says of it: "I never did see an elme 

 that grew spontaneously in a wood as oakes, ashes, beeches, &c., which con- 

 sideration made me reflect that they are exotique ; but by whom were they 

 bi'ought into this island ? Not by the Saxons ; for upon inquiry I am informed 

 that there are none in Saxony, nor in Denmarke, nor yet in France, spontaneous ; 

 but in Italy they are naturall, c.f/,, in Lombardie, &c. "Wherefore I am induced 

 to believe that they were brought hither out of Italy by the Eomans, who 

 were cultivators of their colonies. The Saxons understood not nor cared for such 

 improvements, nor yet had hardly leisui-e if they would." The Koman officers 

 had luxuriant villas in England, and had time and opportunity to introduce 

 trees, &c., as the Vine, the Box, the Elm, and other plants. 



Throughout England, and chiefly in the ancient Mercian counties, there 

 are no less than twenty-four places that liave Saxon names taken from the 

 elm. "Worcestershiie offers some examples, as Elmley Lovett and Elmley 

 Castle, but it is remarkable that there is not a single instance in Herefordshire. 



[ Note. — It is a curious fact that the common English Elm is still 

 called by old people in Herefordsliii'e "The AVorcester Elm;" another 

 straw which seems to show that the stream of civilization came from this 

 direction. ] 



Bromfield, in his "Flora of the Isle of "Wight," and some other botanists 

 have pointed out, as a remarkable fact in the natural history of the Elm, the 

 occasional irregularity of its blossoming ; some years scarcely a single tree is to 

 be seen in blossom, at others every particle of spray is covei'ed with flowers. 

 The elm flowered early and most exiiberantly this year (1868), and from the 

 great heat and drought of the present simimer, will probably do so again next 

 year. 



Elliot says with reference to it as a sign of spring — 



"When the elm blossoms o'er the brooding bird. 

 And wide and wild the plover's wail is heard." 



