THE AMEEICAN ELM. 89 



until it attains its full stature in an open space. It then 

 shows a broad hemispherical head, formed by branches of 

 nearly equal size, issuing chiefly from a common centre, 

 diverging first at a small angle, and gradually spreading 

 outward with a curve that may be traced throughout 

 their length. A considerable number of our roadside 

 elms are specimens more or less imperfect of this normal 

 type. 



THE VASE FORM. 



One of the most admirable of these different forms is 

 that of the vase. The base is represented by the roots of 

 the tree as they project above the ground, making a sort 

 of pedestal for the trunk. The neck of the vase is the 

 trunk before it is subdivided. The middle of the vase 

 consists of the lower part of the branches as they swell 

 outwards with a graceful curve, then gradually diverge, 

 until they bend over at their extremities and form the lip 

 of the vase by a circle of terminal spray. Perfect speci- 

 mens of this beautiful form are rare, but in a row or 

 a grove of elms there are always a few individuals that 

 approximate to this type. 



THE PARASOL. 



The neatest and most beautiful of these forms is the 

 parasol. This variety is seen in those elms which have 

 grown to their full height in the forest, and were left 

 by the woodman in the clearing ; for such is the general 

 admiration of this tree, that great numbers of them are 

 left in clearings in all parts of the country. The State 

 of Maine abounds in trees of this form, sending forth 

 almost perpendicularly a number of branches, that spread 

 out rather suddenly at a considerable height, in the shape 

 of an umbrella. Trees of this type have much of that 

 grandeur which is caused by great height and small dimen- 



