ELM. 175 



terminates its long range from as far south as Algiers, on the 

 north bank of the Eiver Wear, above Sunderland : among 

 such as pertain to South America, orchideous plants, which 

 are parasitical on trees, and are generally characteristic of 

 the tropics, advance to the 38th and 4 2nd degree of south 

 latitude. 



Those who like to visit the ruins of old trees, may find 

 much to interest them in the celebrated Chequer elm, of 

 which the trunk, reduced to a perfect shell, forms a cir- 

 cumference of at least thirty-one feet. This noble tree was 

 planted in the days of Stephen, contemporary in its origin 

 with the heroic struggles of Queen Matilda with the 

 Empress Maude, while her husband remained a prisoner 

 in the dark holds of Bristol Castle. 



Chipstead elm, in Kent, measures fifteen feet in girth ; 

 and legends tell, that during the troublous times of 

 Henry V., the neighbouring rustics, unmindful of con- 

 flicting claims between the Hoses, held their annual fair 

 beneath its branches. Crawley, also, has its memorial tree, 



