150 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 



the case. Holinshed's remarks, made more 

 than three hundred years ago, are thus still 

 applicable to-day: 'Of elme we have great store 

 in everie high waie and elsewhere, yet have I 

 not scene thereof anie togither in woods or 

 forests, but where they have beene first planted 

 and then suffered to spread at their owne 

 willes.' 



When oak was reserved mainly for the needs 

 of shipbuilding, the uses to which elm was put 

 were many. ' Elm is a timber* Evelyn says, 

 * of most singular Use ; especially where it may 

 lie continually dry, or wet in extreames ; therefore 

 proper for Water- works ', Mills, Pipes, Pumps ', 

 Ship -planks beneath the Water-line; and some 

 that has be found burried in Boggs, has turnd 

 like the most polish'd, and hardest Ebony, only 

 discern' d by the grain : Also for Wheel-wrights, 

 Kerbs of Coppers, Featheridg, and Weather-boards, 

 Dressers, and sundry other imployments.' 



During the last century hollowed elm stems 

 were used in London and other great cities for 

 water-conduit before the introduction of leaden 

 and cast-iron pipes, while it also commanded a 

 high price for making the keels of large ships. 



