296 HOW TO GROW GOOD TIMBER. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 



ON THE ELM. 



To the critical botanist the study of the different 

 kinds of Elm is one of the most perplexing subjects 

 he has to cope with, the fact being, that if the seed 

 of any one form be cultivated, the results will seldom 

 or never be uniform, for not only may several well- 

 known varieties be produced from the seed of a single 

 tree, but even new forms may thus be obtained. 



On this account have arisen the great discrepancies 

 one meets with in authors as regards nomenclature ; 

 some making many species of the Elms commonly 

 met with in Great Britain, while others reduce them 

 to two ; viz. — 



Ulmus canipestris — Small-leaved, Coramon Upright or 



English Elm. 

 Ulmus montana — Lai'ge-leaved, Spreading Scotch or 



Wych Elm. 



But though these are the names used by most 

 authors to distinguish these two well-recognized forms, 

 yet they have been reversed in Dr. Arnott's edition of 

 Hooker's "Flora," thus:— 



Ulmus suberosa (Ehrh.) — Common or English Elm. 

 Ulmus campestris (L.) — Broad-leaved or Wych Hazel. 



Now it is not our object to enter into a discussion 

 on the much-vexed question of species, and therefore, 

 without even determining whether the English and 



