CHAP. Cl. ULMA CEA. CE’LTIS. 1415 
seldom touched by insects, either on the Continent or in England; and the 
Céssus Lignipérda and Scélytus destractor, which are so injurious to the 
timber of many other trees, never touch either that of Céltis, that of Planera 
Richardi, or that of Pyrus Sérbus. C. australis is found on both the shores of 
the Mediterranean, throughout the whole of the south of France, Italy, and 
Spain. It is particularly abundant in Provence ; and there is a celebrated tree 
at Aix, under which it is said that the ancient sovereigns of Provence delivered 
their edicts to the people. The European nettle tree is much used in the 
north of [taly and the south of France, for planting squares and public walks, 
where it is frequently found from 40 ft. to 50 ft. high, with trunks from 14 ft. 
to 3 ft.in circumference. The wood of this tree is extremely compact ; ranking 
between that of the live oak and that of the box, for hardness and density. 
According to Baudrillart, it weighs, when dry, 70 lb. 3 0z. per cubic foot. The 
wood of the branches is elastic, and so extremely supple, that a piece 5 ft. or 
6 ft. long, and lin, in diameter, may be made into a circle without breaking. 
Its compactness renders it susceptible of a high polish; and, when it is cut 
obliquely across the fibres, it very much resembles satin-wood. It is principally 
used for furniture, and, by the sculptors in wood, for carving into the statues of 
saints; but it is also employed for making tubs and cisterns, and the branches 
for hay-forks. These divers uses, says M. De Cubiéres, “ remind one of the 
verses of La Fontaine, when he makes his carver in wood exclaim, — 
** Scra-t-il dieu, table, ou cuvette?” 
* What shall I make of it ? ay, that ’s the rub; . 
A god, a table, or a salt-fish tub?” 
The principal use, however, of the nettle tree, in the south of France, is for 
making hay-forks ; for which use the pliability and toughness of its branches 
render it particularly suitable. Plantations of the tree, for this purpose, are 
common near Lyons, and in several parts of the south of France; and in 
the department du Gard there are about seven acres of rocky ground which 
would be quite useless for any other purpose, but which are planted with 
nettle trees, from which above 5000 dozens of hay-forks are made every 
year, producing a yearly revenue of 25,000 francs. The stem of this tree, 
when cut over by the ground, throws up thick and vigorous shoots, which 
make excellent handles for coach whips, ramrods to muskets, and walking- 
sticks, which have almost the flexibility of a supple-jack. When the trees 
are intended for this purpose, they are planted in masses very close to one 
another, in order that they may be drawn up, and increase in length rather 
than in thickness. The inhabitants of Narbonne, and of the department of 
Aude, cultivate the nettle tree for these purposes, in the very best soil ; and 
the shoots produced form an article of extensive commerce, under the name of 
bois de Perpignan, furnishing, according to Baudrillart, whip-handles to all the 
coachmen in Europe. It is also much used for musical instruments, and for 
the shafts and axletrees of carriages, the poles of sedan chairs, and the naves 
of wheels. The root is used for dyeing yellow; the bark for tanning; and 
an oil is expressed from the stones of the fruit. 
Statistics. In the environs of London, the largest tree is at Mitcham, in the grounds which fer- 
merly belonged to Mr. Dubois; where the trunk is 6ft. 8in. in circumference, and the head 50 ft. in 
diameter. It bears abundance of fruit every year, as noticed, with other particulars, in p. 63. At Kew, 
there is a tree 40 ft. high ; and one at Kenwood, which, in 40 years, has attained the height of 40 ft., 
with a trunk 1 ft.in diameter. In Dorsetshire, at Melbury Park, 30 years planted, it is 28 ft. high : 
the diameter of the trunk is 2 ft., and of the head 21 ft. At Coul, in Cromarty, it is 16 ft. high. Near 
Dublin, at Terenure, itis 10 ft. high. In France, in the Jardin des Plantes, in Paris, 60 years planted, 
it is 60 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 1} ft.; in the Botanic Garden at Toulon, 50 years planted, 
it is 40 ft. high, and the diameter of the trunk 1} ft.; near Montpelier, there is a tree with a trunk 
3 ft. 4in. in diameter. In Italy, at Monza, 100 years old, it is 70 ft. high; the diameter of the trunk 
3 ft., and of the head 72 ft. 
% 2. C. (a.) cauca’stca Willd. The Caucasian Celtis, or Nettle Tree. 
een und, Sp. PL, 4. p.994 ; Poiret in Encycl. Suppl., 3. p. 688.; Reem. et Schult. Syst. 
- Veg., 6. p. 305. 
Spec. Char., &c. This is very closely akin to C. australis ; but it differs in its leaves being more ovate, 
having the acuminate part shorter, and being glabrous, except in so far as is stated below. The 
leaves of C. caucsica may be described as follows : — Oblong, acuminate, serrate with large teeth, a 
