The American Elm 141 



or broken veins, but those in the elm leaf are 

 almost straight. The buds, like the leaves, are 

 oval in shape, smooth, and light brown. They 

 are not more than an eighth of an inch long, 

 with large leaf scars beneath them. 



The elm's seeds ripen early in May. They are 

 winged and small, not over half an inch long. 

 They grow in clusters on the tree. The seeds are 

 smooth on both sides and flat. The wings of the 

 seeds are light, and look something like paper. 

 They are hairy along the edges. 



The elm has light green twigs, which later turn 

 reddish-brown, and finally gray. On the old 

 trees the bark is gray and deeply -furrowed. The 

 light brown wood is heavy, strong, and not easily 

 split. Many baskets and barrels are made of it; 

 the wheels on bicycles have elm rims; and for 

 the hubs of wagon wheels, elm has no equal. 

 Even those in the "One-Hoss Shay" of Oliver 

 Wendell Holmes were made of elm. 



