224 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [CHAP. 



free from sudden bends and knots, and suitable for con- 

 version into plank and board. 



7. All the timber to have the bark on the wanes, to 

 be good, sound, merchantable, well conditioned, such as 

 shall be approved of by the officers of the respective 

 yards, and in every respect fit for the service of her 

 Majesty's navy. 



THE WYCH ELM TREE (Ulmus montana) 



is most abundant in the North of England and in Scot- 

 land, and is only sparingly scattered over the southern 

 counties. 



Ordinarily this description of Elm is of very moderate 

 dimensions, although instances are by no means rare of 

 its attaining a great size. In Evelyn's " Sylvia," we are 

 informed that a Wych Elm, which grew in the park of 

 Sir Walter Bagot, in Staffordshire, measured 17 feet in 

 diameter at the base, and was estimated to contain the 

 large quantity of 97 tons of timber. 



The Wych is readily distinguished from the common 

 Elm by its smoother and thinner bark, by the absence of 

 heavy branches low down on the stem, and by the larger 

 size of the leaves. 



The wood is of a light-brownish colour, rather more 

 porous than the common Elm, tough, and moderately 

 hard when seasoned. Being generally clean and straight 

 in the grain, and very flexible when steamed, it is in 

 great request for boat-building ; in other respects its uses 

 are as varied and numerous as those of the common 

 Elm. 



THE DUTCH ELM TREE 



closely resembles the Wych Elm, and is found growing 

 in this country under the same conditions of soil, 

 aspect, &c. 



