48 DISTRIBUTION OF 



very few trees grown in such a condition are found 

 sound in the heart if they have attained any con- 

 siderable size. Where the elm is found growing 

 in a low, sheltered situation, and upon a light soil, 

 the tree grows very rapidly, and attains its greatest 

 perfection as a tall spreading ornamental tree ; but 

 under such conditions the tree seldom lives long, 

 and generally is found to die suddenly when rapidly 

 grown. Another peculiar cu^cumstance attending 

 elm trees grown in a sheltered place and upon a 

 light soil is, that they are generally found what is 

 termed " shaken ;" that is, the heart wood of the 

 tree is all split into longitudinal pieces, conse- 

 quently the wood of such trees is of little value. 



Upon a high and exposed situation, the elm 

 succeeds best upon a light dry soil ; but if the soil 

 be stiff it will not succeed in developing any thing 

 like valuable timber. In situations twelve hundred 

 feet above the level of the sea, I have seen good 

 valuable elm trees growing upon a hght and rather 

 sandy soil ; but at the same height, when the soil 

 was inchned to clay, I have always seen the elm 

 assume a low spreading habit, and very apt to be- 

 come knotty and of little value as regards its timber. 



The circumstances which are most favourable to 

 the healthy growth of the elm are, a dry loamy soil, 

 rather deficient in vegetable matter, which would 

 produce too keen an excitement to the growth 

 of the tree, a free exposure to the open air, and 



