56 LONDON TREES 



forms are so many that it is impossible to draw a 

 line of separation. 



The Weeping Elm (U. montana penduld) is a 

 graceful variety that is commonly distributed over the 

 London area, where, like the species, it grows with 

 great freedom. There is a large specimen in the 

 grounds of the Royal Botanic Society in Regent's 

 Park, while in the central parks and in many of the 

 squares and gardens trees of large size are to be seen. 

 Well-developed specimens of the Weeping Elm are 

 also to be found in Lincoln's Inn Fields, at Bloomsbury 

 and Russell Squares, Lambeth, Chelsea, and through- 

 out the East End generally. 



The Huntingdon Elm (U. glabra vegetd) is also to 

 be recommended for smoky localities, and is com- 

 monly to be seen throughout metropolitan gardens 

 and parks. 



Probably Elm wood is used for a greater number 

 of purposes than that of any other tree, and is especially 

 valuable when immersed in water or kept constantly 

 under ground. It was almost the only wood used for 

 the pipes of the water companies previous to the 

 introduction of iron. Quite recently we had the 

 privilege of examining a number of wooden water- 

 pipes that had been removed from a London street 

 where they had been in use for one hundred and 

 forty years. These trunks were about 6 feet in length, 

 varied from 8 to 18 inches in diameter, and were bored 

 lengthwise with holes that varied from 7 to 10 inches 

 in diameter. The pipes showed not the least indica- 

 tion of decay : indeed, seemed harder, firmer, and of 

 a darker colour than that of fresh-felled timber. It 

 is also consumed in great quantities by the wheel- 

 wright and cabinet-maker, but although tolerably 



