THE AMERICAN ELM 



261 



bark, which characterizes the latter. The twigs of the 

 cork elm have irregular corky ridges ; twigs of the winged 

 elm also develop corky ridges which are wide and much 

 flattened. 



The leaf buds are small, sharp-pointed, usually smooth 

 and covered with six to ten overlapping reddish-brown 

 scales. The flower buds are larger than the leaf buds, 

 somewhat flattened and farther from the end of the twig 

 than the leaf buds. The buds of slippery elm are easily 

 told from those of white elm because they are larger and 

 coated with an abundance of golden-brown hairs. 



Pkotoffrof ' 



Lancy. 

 THE VASE TYPE OF ELM 



This tree, which is on the Latta Road near Charlotte, N. Y., is known by 

 the residents in that vicinity as the "Golden Rod" and the "Boquet." 

 Frequently the vase type of elm is feathered, as is this tree, but 

 elms of other forms are also feathered, the small branches on the 

 trunk growing nearly to the ground. The effect tints produced is 

 very pleasing. 



The leaves are spaced singly on the branches. When 

 they first come out of the bud they are folded like little 

 fans ; when full grown they are 2 to 5 inches long, 2 to 

 3 inches wide, sharp-pointed, with prominent, evenly 

 spaced veins that run straight from the midrib to the 

 saw-like edges. The upper surface of the white elm leaf 

 U fairly smooth to the touch; that of the slippery elm is 

 rough whichever way it is rubbed. The two halves of the 

 elm leaf blade are unequal at the base. It is interesting 

 to study the arrangement of elm leaves on the branches in 

 the summer. It will be seen that the leaves are so shaped 

 as to fit closely to the branch and each leaf in relation to 

 the others stands so that all receive full benefit from the 

 sunlight which they require to elaborate the food of the 

 tree. 



ONE TYPE OF AMERICAN ELM 



This is known as the low-headed form of the willow type. Note the fiat 

 spread and compare it with the other forms of this well-known 

 and well-liked tree. 



The flowers of the white elm appear in March or April 

 before the leaves, and are among the first heralds of the 

 coming spring. They are perfect, that is, each flower 

 has the pollen-forming and seed-forming elements, but 

 they are so small and so inconspicuous in color and size 

 that they may be mistaken for unfolding buds. The 

 fruits (samaras) ripen before the leaves have fully de- 

 veloped and themselves look like tiny, oval leaves. The 

 seed is small and flat and surrounded on all sides by a 

 wing which is deeply notched at the tip and the margin 

 of the wing is fringed with hair= 



The wood of the American elm is heavy, hard and 

 strong. Because of its interlacing fibers the wood is very 



A RARE FORM OF AMERICAN ELM 

 It is not often that this form of the elm is found. 



