AMENTIFER^. 143 



and compactness, and more liable to split. From the leaves somewhat resembling 

 those of the hazel, Gerard tells us that in Hampshire " it is commonly called the witch 

 hasell. Old men affirm," he adds, " that, when long bows were in use, there were 

 very many made of the wood of this tree, for which purpose it is mentioned in the 

 English statutes by this name of witch hasell." According to Gerard, the wych elm 

 was applied to various uses in ancient times. It was not only made into bows, but its 

 bark, which is very tough, was made into ropes. The wood was also considered good 

 for the naves of carts, and for many of the purposes to which that of the common elm 

 is now applied. Modern artificers, however, find that, when the latter can be obtained, 

 it is better and more durable. The name of the tree appears to have been derived 

 from the former use of elm wood for making the troughs and pipes by which the brino 

 was conveyed from the salt springs or ivijcJies : it was, in ancient times, often given to 

 the common elm as well as to this species. Either from some strange association of 

 ideas resulting from the name, or from some forgotten superstition, the wych elm had 

 the credit of being a powerful charm against witchcraft and evil spirits. In some parts 

 of the midland counties it is still the practice to put a small piece of wood in every 

 churn to ensure the safety of the milk from fairies and witches, who might otherwise 

 prevent its conversion into butter ; and in many places the peasantry place the same 

 confidence in its protecting powers as the Highlanders did in those of the rowan tree. 

 Mr. Johnson suggests that the superstition is of Scandinavian origin, for the tree seems 

 to have had some sacred character assigned it by the old Korsemen, the floating 

 log that was converted by the sons of Bore into the first woman having been according 

 to the " Edda " of elm. It is very rarely that this species of elm produces suckers, 

 but it roots readily from layers. The best mode of propagating it, however, is from 

 seeds, which ought to be gathered by the hand before they drop, and directly they 

 are ripe. 



ORDER LXXIL— AMENTIFERiE. 



Trees or shrubs, mostly with alternate leaves, and foliaceous and 

 persistent or scarious and deciduous stipules. Flowers, or at least the 

 male ones, in catkins, always unisexual, dioecious or monoecious. 

 Perianth in the male flowers of 1 or more small floral- scales, though 

 perhaps in all cases this supposed perianth is formed of bracts : stamens 

 definite, often 2 within each catkin scale. Female catkins like the 

 male, or reduced to 1 or few terminal flowers, with the lower catkin 

 scales empty, and forming an involucre round it : perianth adnate to the 

 ovary or of 1 or 2 small scales or free and cuplike : ovary 1 or more 

 celled, with the styles 2 or more. Fruit 1-celled and 2-valved, with 

 several seeds, or 1-celled, 1-seeded, and indehiscent; in the latter case 

 sometimes surrounded with an involucre of bracts. 



Sub-Order.— CUPULIFERtE. 



Leaves alternate, simple, pinnately veined. Stij)ules deciduous. 

 Flowers monoecious. Male flowers in cylindrical or oblong catkins. 



