THE SCOTCH ELM OR WITCH ELM 



THE Scotch Elm, Dutch Elm, Mountain or Witch Elm, is said to be the most beau- 

 tiful of all the European species of Elms. As will be seen from the pictures oh 

 the plate, it is very distinctive in its habit of growth and the characters of its 

 foliage and fruit. The leafless tree has a most attractive symmetry, while the yellow green 

 leaves with their evenly serrate margins are of a beautiful form. They are generally larger 

 than the leaves of the English Elm, and hang down more heavily. The fruit is especially 

 notable for the curious beak-like hooks on the outer ends. 



The history of this Elm in Europe, especially in the British Isles, where it is thought 

 to be the native species, abounds in traditions of those early times when witches and evil 

 spirits were taken seriously into account by mankind. It is said to have been commonly 

 planted in such a position that its shade should fall upon the lich-gate of the church-yard. 

 The twigs of it were believed to be potent in hastening the coming of the butter in the 

 churn. Decoctions of the blossoms and the inner bark were largely used as medicine. 



Like the other Elms, this species after a hundred years attains a great height and 

 large diameter. In Gilbert White's "Selborne" a record is made of a large tree partially 

 blown down in 1703, which measured eight feet in diameter and furnished eight loads of 

 timber. Some specimens are believed to live for several centuries before they die of old 

 age. The large trees are generally less tall and more spreading than English Elms of 

 similar age. 



This Elm seems to have been planted in America only to a very slight extent. It 

 might wen receive more attention in this respect in order that its unique beauty might 

 become more generally known, and that there be greater variety in the trees of our parks 

 and private grounds. 



Both the English Elm and the Scotch Elm have been developed into a large num- 

 ber of horticultural varieties. In the case of the latter species some of the more important 

 of these forms are: The Purple-leaved Elm (variety air purpurea); the Fastigiate Elm 

 (variety fastigiata); the Camperdown or Weeping Elm (variety Camperdowni); the 

 Dwarf Elm (variety nana); the Tricuspid Elm, with three-lobed leaves (variety tricus- 

 pis) . Several varieties vary in the shape or color of the leaves, some being yellow, others 

 purple when young and green when mature, while others are very dark green. 



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