THE ELMS 



465 



be grey and the air " has an edge upon 

 it." For when the Elms are in flower 

 the spring-time is fairly assured. Pre- 



ELM TWIGS WITH CORKY BARK. 



sently the glow fades, changing to a light 

 and tender green. Clusters of winged 

 fruits cover the surface as with foliage, 

 though the leaves are still in hiding. 

 Finally these unfold themselves and clothe 

 the tree with delicate verdure. 



In summer the foliage, now darker in 

 hue, is richly massed. Sun-illumined sur- 

 faces gradating into deepest shadows 

 present a roundness and fulness that 

 give to this tree an especial " presence," 

 powerful and well nourished. The shade 

 it casts is wholly pleasa;nt, and but little 

 harmful to the grassy undergrowth, 

 whereon the cattle rest through the hot 

 hours of noon. 



In autumn the Elm leaves retain their 

 colour, but become gradually rustj'-looking. 

 Then a small patch here and there shows 

 clear yellow. These patches increase and 

 spread till the time of the fall, which is 

 somewhat early. 



The bark of the Elm is thick and often 

 corky, roughened, and crumpled. In 

 colour it is a medium grey. The twigs 

 are greyish to brown. The buds are 

 brown, conical in shape, and show several 



protecting scales. They are arranged 

 alternately on the twig, and stand up on 

 rather prominent leaf-bases, but always 

 obliquely to these. The flower buds are 

 larger and rounded. The leaf -scar is also 

 prominent, approaching the circular in 

 shape, and showing three distinct leaf- 

 traces. The leaves must be considered 

 separately, as these afford the best dis- 

 tinguishing marks. It may, however, be 

 noted here that they have a somewhat 

 lop-sided appearance, owing to the halves 

 being unequal, as though on one side 





Wych Elm. Common Elm, one with flower buds. 

 TWIGS OF THE ELMS. 



of the midrib the leaf-extension had 

 contracted, and shrunk upwards from 

 the base. The leaf margins show large 



