THE WYCH ELM. 231 



The Elm retains its foliage till late in the autumn, the 

 leaves assuming a rich yellow hue some time before they 

 fall from the tree. If examined closely at this season, 

 they will be found to be marked with dark-coloured 

 blotches. These spots contain the instruments appointed 

 for insuring the decay of the leaves. During the winter 

 months the leaves remain on the ground unaltered except 

 in colour; but in spring the spots become matured, the 

 surface cracks, and a minute fungus appears : decomposi- 

 tion spreads from these points, and the leaves very soon 

 decay. 



THE WYCH ELM. 



THIS species, it has been observed above, may be dis- 

 tinguished from the Common Elm by its larger leaves and 

 slightly-notched seed-vessels. A practised eye will also be 

 able to detect it readily by other peculiarities. The shoots 

 of the young trees are of so vigorous a growth as to be 

 nearly equal in size to the stem from which they spring ; 

 they are also so heavily laden with leaves, which are as 

 large as those of the Hazel, or even larger, that they have 

 an arched, drooping appearance. On the older branches 

 the leaves are smaller, and hang in large heavy masses ; 

 they may be distinguished by being taper-pointed, and 

 nearly equal at the base. The trunk is less upright than 

 those of the other species, and soon divides into long, 

 widely- spreading, somewhat drooping branches. Though 

 less common in England than the Small-leaved Elm, it is 

 far from rare. In Scotland it is the only indigenous 

 species : whence it is often called the Scotch Elm. From 

 the leaves somewhat resembling those of the Hazel, Gerard 

 tells us it is sometimes called the " Witch-hasell." " Old 

 men affirm," he adds, "that when long bows were in use, 

 there were very many made of the wood of this tree ; for 

 which purpose it is mentioned in the English statutes by 

 this name of Witch-hasell." The meaning of its name is 



