TREES IN NATURE 6^ 



symmetrical in outline. Like its namesake 

 it is not indigenous in this country, having only 

 been introduced as late, probably, as the 

 middle of the sixteenth century. 



The trees that we inevitably associate here 

 with those already mentioned are such as the 

 elm, the lime, the beech and the ash ; and, 

 after these, the larger willows. For we are 

 regarding trees not from the scientific stand- 

 point, but with respect, mainly, to variety of 

 appearance. Therefore we group together 

 those that are large, and, in their general shape, 

 round and bossy, and which, when several of 

 them are together, present a complex mass of 

 stems, boughs and leafage. 



The elms most frequently seen in this 

 country are known as the wych elm and the 

 common or small-leaved elm. The former is 

 more widespreading in proportion to its height 

 than the latter, which sends up a long, straight, 

 central trunk ; whereas the trunk of the wych 

 elm divides off again and again. The common 

 elm has, therefore, the more commanding ap- 

 pearance. Both have rough bark, and com- 

 paratively small leaves — the common elm, as 

 its second name implies, having the smaller 



