INTRODUCTION 



Massachusetts, on account of the fact 

 that it is one of the oldest states in the 

 Union, and because of the unusual number 

 of places of historical interest which it con- 

 tains, offers remarkably good territory from 

 which to select famous trees. The "Bay 

 State," moreover, lies in the center of that 

 section of the country which seems to be 

 especially loved by and devoted to the 

 Ulmus Americana (American Elm). No less 

 than twenty splendid examples of this species 

 are here cherished on account of the deeds 

 they commemorate; some of these have 

 spent their entire life on the spot where 

 nature first placed them; 2 but the majority 

 of the celebrated elms were dug from the 

 fields when mere seedlings and transplanted 

 to new situations along the main streets and 

 highways, or in front of dwelling houses 

 that have long since found a place in the 

 Nation's history. The white oak (quercus 

 alba) is second in importance to the elm, 

 while the third place is about equally divided 



2 For example, the Great Elm mentioned in Chap, i, and 

 the Washington Elm mentioned in Chap. 2 are said to have 

 been remnants of the original forest. 



