ELM 53 



Elm 



(Ulmus campestris) 



BOTH the English and Scotch Elms as well as 

 several varieties thrive in London, and though, 

 for reasons which will be explained hereafter, they 

 cannot be generally recommended, are yet valuable 

 additions to such trees as have been found suitable 

 for withstanding smoke and dust. The Elm has 

 several drawbacks for town planting, which in recent 

 years in particular have to some extent restricted its 

 use, especially in our public parks and thickly popu- 

 lated districts. It is a dangerous tree, owing to the 

 brittleness of the timber, heavy branches snapping 

 across during stormy weather, or even in the still 

 summer day, without the slightest warning, and often 

 to the danger of those who may be present beneath 

 their shade. Several such cases have occurred of 

 late, and in two instances at least with fatal results. 

 The reasons for this sudden snapping of Elm branches 

 may be disease or injury in the wood, disposition 

 and weight of branch, the extra weight of foliage 

 during the growing season, or the extra brittleness of 

 the timber caused by the flow of sap. In some parks 

 and gardens the Royal parks in particular an annual 

 examination of the Elms and other suspected trees 

 is made, and all heavy and diseased branches either 

 wholly removed or cut back to such an extent that 

 their safety is ensured. But even with the most 

 minute and careful examination it by no means follows 

 that accidents will not occur, for the simple reason 

 that it is often impossible to detect flaws and diseases 



