80 



The Elm is never heavy in its foliage like the Horse-chesnut, the 

 Sycamore, or even the Lime tree. "As a inctm-esque tree," says Gilpin, 

 " the Elm, when without its leaves, has not so distinct a character as either 

 the oak or the ash, . . . but in full foliage its character is more marked. 

 No tree is better adapted to receive grand masses of light. In tliis respect it 

 is superior to the oak and the ash. Nor is its foliage, shadowing as it is, of 

 the heavy kind. Its leaves are smaller, and this gives it a natui-al lightness ; 

 it commonly hangs loosely, and is in general very picturesque." 



Very many varieties have been raised from the seeds of the English Elm- 

 Amongst the best known are the Red English Elm (Ulmus c. Stricta), one 

 of the most valuable timber trees ; the Kidbrook Ebn ( Ulmus c. virensj, which 

 is almost evergreen in a mild winter, and as such is a most ornamental tree ; 

 it has red bark and a spreading habit ; the Cornish Elm (Ulmus c. Cornuhiensis), 

 a tall and distinct upright variety ; the Cork-barked Elm (Ulmus C. Suberosa) ; 

 the Dutch Cork -barked Elm (Ulmus c. S. major) ; the delicate twigged Birch- 

 like Elm ( Ulmus c. ViminalisJ ; the Birch-leaved Elm, the White-leaved Elm, 

 the Sharp-leaved Elm, the Elm with variegated leaves, and a very great variety 

 of other Elms, for an account of which, let those who please, look into the 

 subject in Loudon, or any other of the gardening authorities. 



Many of these varieties are doubtless growing in Herefordshire, but nose 

 have reached the position of trees remarkable for their size, and do not there- 

 fore find a i^lace in the list I have now to put before you. 



" A goodly Elm of noble girth 

 That thrice tlie human span, 

 While on their variegated course 



The constant seasons ran 

 Through gale, and hail, and fiery bolt, 

 Had stood erect as man." 



Sood. 



Loudon, in his catalogue of "Recorded Elms," mentions only three trees 

 in the whole county, "One at Eastnor Castle, 18 years old, is 55 feet in 

 height." "One at Croft Castle is 95 feet high with a diameter of six feet, and 

 of the head 60 feet." With reference to these trees I have no information. 

 Lastly he mentions and gives a figure of — 



The Rotherwas Elm, which shows it to separate into three large branches 

 at about 12 feet from the groiind, and makes it 112 feet in height. The trunk 

 of this fine old tree was completely blown down in 1865, and it now lies a sheU 

 upon the ground. In its shrunken and dried form it measures as it lies, 29 feet 

 six inches at five feet from the base, and in its living state must therefore have 

 been considerably larger. 



The Kingsacre Elm is situated about two miles from Hereford on the 

 turnpike road leading to Hay. It has a girth of 18 feet eight inches at five feet 

 from the ground. At 12 feet from the ground it divides into thi^ee stems of 



