ELM 349 



ELM. 



Ulmus campestris = The Common or English Elm. 

 Ulmus montana = The Wych or Scots Elm. 

 Ulmus Americana = The American Elm or The White 



Elm. 



The Scots Elm is native to this country, but the other 

 two varieties have been introduced. 



As to Seed. The seed of the English Elm never ripens in 

 this country ; but the Scots Elm seeds freely and frequently. 

 The seed is ripe in about the first week in June, and should 

 be sown immediately. The germinative capacity of the 

 seed is about 25 per cent., and I Ib. of seed contains about 

 60,000 seeds. Good seed years are very frequent. The 

 English Elm is propagated by root-suckers. 



The timber is not very strong as regards resistance to 

 weight, tension, and shearing. But it is very difficult to split ; 

 and it is very durable. The timber of the Scots Elm is 

 stronger and more elastic than the Common Elm ; and, 

 when young, is often used in the place of Ash. In many 

 parts of the country, it is worth about 3d. a foot more than 

 the Common Elm, provided it be cut when quite young. The 

 heartwood of the English Elm is reddish-brown in colour, 

 but that of the Scots Elm is not conspicuous in this manner. 



Soil and Situation. Elm require a considerable amount 

 of moisture. They will grow in a great variety of soils ; but, 

 dry sandy soils, or thin chalky soils, or very stiff clays, are 

 quite unsuited to them. 



Clays that suit the Sessile Oak will also generally grow 

 good Elm ; and Elm will grow on soils which are far too stiff 

 for Ash. 



Generally speaking, Elm require a deep soil, but they will 

 thrive very well on quite thin clay soils, provided that the 

 subsoil rock be disintegrated. Stoney subsoils seem to suit 

 them, as is the case with Larch. 



The Elm are fairly hardy as regards late and early frosts ; 

 and they are one of the few trees which seem to grow equally 



