40 Trees, Stars, and Birds 



a fragrant and mucilaginous inner bark which children 

 like to chew. Its leaves are larger and rougher than 

 those of the American elm, and its wood, in contrast 

 with that of the latter, is easy to split. Because it 

 wears well and is pliable when steamed, it is sometimes 

 used for making sleigh runners. It is also used for parts 

 of agricultural implements. It is sometimes used locally 

 for the framing of buildings. The slippery elm grows 

 in deep, fertile soil on the banks of streams and on rich, 

 rocky hillsides, throughout most of the eastern half of 

 the United States. 



Objections to elms as shade trees. The principal 

 objection to the elm for planting is that its foliage is 

 attacked by many kinds of insects. Caterpillars of the 

 gypsy moth and tussock moth as well as the larvae of the 

 elm-leaf beetle eat the leaves. In the streets of Eastern 

 cities many elms have been ruined by insects. On this 

 account it would be better not to plant so many elms. 

 They should not be planted at all along ordinary city 

 streets where houses are close to the sidewalk, for they 

 need space to grow into their full beauty. Nor should 

 they be planted where large quantities of soft coal are 

 burned, for their rough leaves catch the soot, which, 

 sticking fast, chokes up the breathing pores and in time 

 kills the tree. 



What beautiful bird selects the swaying branches of 

 the elm from which to hang its nest? Why is the nest 

 built so far out from the trunk of the tree? 



Shapes of trees. The trunks of some kinds of trees 

 divide into so many branches that in the upper part 

 of the tree no trunk can be distinguished. Such trees 



