4S4 ULMUS CAMPESTRIS. 
tells us that, in Hampshire, " it is commonly called the witch hazell." The 
flowers are paler, rather larger, and occur in looser tufts, than those of most 
other varieties. They have each from five to seven oblong-acute segments, and 
as many broad, and rather heart-shaped, dark anthers. The samaras are broadly 
obovate or elliptical, and almost orbicular, with shallow notches at the ends, not 
extending half way to the seeds. This variety, although the most common elm 
in Scotland and Ireland, and grows spontaneously in numerous places in Eng- 
land and other temperate parts of northern Europe, appears to be almost 
unknown in France and Germany, as it is not mentioned by any of the 
dendrological writers of the two last-named countries. It is only within the 
present century, however, that this tree has been much planted in England, 
though in Scotland and Ireland its timber has long been considered as next in 
value to that of the oak; and it has, accordingly, been extensively introduced 
into artificial plantations. Its wood weighs less than Lhat of the Ulmus cam- 
pestris, and is of a coarser grain. Nevertheless, it is used by the ship-builder, 
the boat-builder, the pump and block-maker, the cartwright, the cabinet-maker, 
and the coach-maker. The timber, according to Matthews, has great longitu- 
dinal toughness ; but, from the great quantity of sap-wood, and want of lateral 
adhesion, it splits considerably when dry. The summit of this variety, which 
has a peculiar fan-like spread of branches, often tends, probably from the effects 
of the prevailing winds, to one side, which is most perceptible in young trees. 
Hence, when fully grown, the stem is generally slightly bent, which renders it 
very appropriate for the floor-timbers of vessels, being the only part of a ship, 
except the bottom planks, to which it is applicable, as it soon decays above water. 
" The tree," continues Matthews, " when it comes to some size, and the primary 
branches being lopped off, like the common elm, and the oak, often throws out 
a brush of twigs from the stem ; and these twigs impeding the transit of the sap, 
the brush increases, and the stem thickens considerably, in consequence of a 
wart-like deposit of wood forming at the base of the twigs. This excrescence, 
when of size, after being seasoned in some cool, moist place, such as the north 
re-entering angle of a building exposed to the dripping from the roof, forms a 
richer veneer for cabinet-work than any other timber." But, even without this 
process, the wood has often a curious laced appearance, which renders it fit for 
dressing cases and other fancy works. The wood of this tree is said to be suita- 
ble for the naves, poles, and shafts of gigs and other carriages ; and from its not 
splintering, as is the case with the oak and ash, in time of battle, it is used for the 
swingle-trees of the carriages of cannon. It is also employed for the rollers of 
printers and dyers; for making wheel-barrows; and for the handles of spades, 
forks, and other implements of husbandry. And, according to Gerard it was 
applied to various uses in ancient times. It was not only made into bows, but 
its bark, which is so tough that it will strip or peel off from the wood from one 
end of a bough to the other, without breaking, was made into ropes. Gilpin, in 
speaking of this tree, says, that it " is, perhaps, generally more picturesque than 
the common sort, as it hangs more negligently, though, at the same time with 
this negligence, it loses, in a good degree, that happy surface for catching 
masses of light, which we admire in the common elm. We observe, also, when 
we see this tree in company with the common elm, that its bark is of a some- 
what lighter hue." On this passage, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder observes, "We 
are disposed to think that Mr. Gilpin hardly does justice to this elm. For our 
own parts, we consider the wych, or Scottish elm, as one of the most beautiful 
trees in our British sylva. The trunk is so bold and picturesque in form, cov- 
ered, as it frequently is, with huge excrescences; the limbs and branches are so 
free and graceful in their growth : and the foliage is so rich, without being leafy 
or clumpy, as a whole ; and the head is generally so finely massed, and yet so 
