THE WYCH ELM. 



233 



unknown ; hence it is variously spelt by authors, wych, 

 wich, witch, and weech. In some of the midland counties 

 the name seems to have originated the notion that it is a 

 preservative against witchcraft, and a sprig is inserted 

 into a hole in the churn by dairymaids, in order that the 

 butter may come freely. The foliage withers much earlier 

 than that of the Common Elm, curling up and becoming 

 brown before almost any other tree has acquired its 

 autumnal tint. 



LEAF OF WYCH ELM. 



The Wych Elm ripens its seeds freely in June, but 

 produces no suckers; it grows more rapidly than the 

 common kind : and this probably is the reason why its 

 timber is inferior for most purposes. It is nevertheless 

 valuable to the wheelwright and millwright, and the 

 excrescences are highly prized by the cabinet-maker, 

 who makes of them a beautiful veneer for tables, work- 



