29 
In the churchyard some very fine Elms are gone and a large 
number of other trees, chiefly evergreens, planted. 
In the avenue to the house at Elmhurst a number of Elm trees 
were blown down and since Mr. Broome’s death, great numbers 
of remarkably fine Elms, notably those in the Church path, pre- 
viously a striking feature in the landscape, have been cut down. No 
Elm, so far as I know, has been planted there since Mr. Broome’s 
death. On the opposite side of the river, at Hampton Manor, 
numbers of the Elms, said to have been planted by Ralph Allen, 
have been blown down. The trees since planted are chiefly lime 
trees. The grand trees in Bathampton churchyard are being cut 
down. This account extends to only a small locality. 
I think I need add no more on this head, though I could 
easily do so. 
Business considerations also have their weight in lessening the 
planting of Elms. 
The Elm timber was the best for the keel, &c., of ships. Iron 
now takes its place for that and other purposes. The various 
uses for which Elm timber was applied are stated by Evelyn, 
Loudon, and Selby. (1) 
The Elm used to be planted for shelter in mixed plantations. 
It is now considered unsuitable for that purpose. (2) 
But the Elm will make a good fight for it. For wherever you 
cut down an English Elm, a dozen suckers will spring up ready to 
take the parent’s place. 
A curious instance of the way these young suckers will force 
their way up, even through cracks in the pavement, is mentioned 
by Collinson (3), who speaks of an Elm inside a pew at Weathill 
Church, two feet high, with upwards of thirty branches. 
It seems that at the restoration (1660) loyalty frequently took 
the form of Elm tree planting. 
Cie eee al 
(1) ‘* Evelyn’s Silva,” 5th Ed., p. 44 «« 3 Loudon’s Arboretum,” p. I 380. 
‘«Selby’s Forest Trees,” p. 113. 
(2) ‘*Selby’s Forest Trees,” p. 110. 
(3) ‘*Collinson’s Hist. of Somerset,” Vol. 3, p- 450+ 
