The Scotch or Wych Elm. 339 



foliage of a ciit-leaved oak was greatly defaced by the new 

 worm, but the elm by its side had not a leaf injured. 



We have noticed its peculiar exemption from the ravages 

 of the canker-worm for three or four years, and have in con- 

 sequence recommended it to many friends as one of the most 

 desirable as well as beautiful street trees ; and now that it has 

 escaped the attacks of the new enemy, we deem it of suffi- ^ 

 cient importance to recommend, to all planters of fine trees, 

 the introduction of the Scotch elm in company with, if not 

 in the place of, our own native species. It is very little 

 known ; indeed, we recollect of seeing but few trees of it of 

 any size in the neighborhood of Boston. It is, however, 

 aside from the value which we attach to it, a remarkable fine 

 ornamental tree. We have already spoken highly in its praise 

 in our descriptive list of ornamental trees in a previous vol- 

 ume, (XVII, p. 153.) Gilpin and Sir Thomas Dick Lauder 

 speak highly of it as an ornamental tree, and as a timber tree 

 some of the best English writers state that "it is prized next 

 to the wood of the oak." 



Gilpin, a thorough enthusiast in his love of trees, says of 

 the Wych elm, that it " is, perhaps, generally more pictur- 

 esque than the common elm, ( C/'lmus campestris,) as it hangs 

 more negligently, though at the same time, with this negli- 

 gence it loses in a good degree that happy surface for catch- 

 ing masses of light which we admire in the common elm. 

 We observe also when we see this tree in company with the 

 common elm that its bark is somewhat of a lighter hue." 

 ( Gilpin'' s Forest Scenery.) On this opinion Sir Thomas 

 Dick Lauder observes, "We are disposed to think Mr. Gilpin 

 hardly does justice to this elm. For our part we consider 

 the Wych or Scottish elm as one of the finest trees in our 

 British Sylva. The trunk is so bold and picturesque in form, 

 covered, as it frequently is, with large excrescnces ; the limbs 

 and branches are so free and graceful in their growth ; and 

 the foliage is so rich, without being leafy or clumpy as a 

 whole ; and the head is, generally, so finely massed, and yet 

 so well broken, as to render it one of the noblest of park 

 trees, and when it grows wildly amid the rocky scenery of 



