226 THE ELM. 



seem to show that that species was not considered to be 

 so well adapted to the purpose as the cultivated kinds. 

 The leaves and bark Avere supposed to have an astringent 

 property, and were therefore used in the curing of wounds ; 

 the timber was recommended, for its rigidity and toughness, 

 as fit for the hinges, or rather pivots, of gates ; and Virgil 

 tells us, that young Elms were bent down while in a 

 growing state, and kept in a curved position until they 

 had acquired the necessary shape in order to be converted 

 into plough-tails, a process which has been imitated in 

 modern times with respect to Oak-trees, for the production 

 of what is called knee-timber in ship-building. The 

 wedding of the Vine to the Elm is frequently mentioned 

 by the Eoman poets among the tranquil and healthful 

 occupations of rural life. Some authors are of opinion 

 that the Elm was introduced into Britain by the Romans 

 along with the Vine ; and this opinion borrows weight 

 from the fact, that it rarely matures its seeds, and there- 

 fore would require the assistance of man to secure its 

 continued propagation. Since, too, the Elm was one of 

 the trees frequently planted on funeral mounds, it may 

 have been introduced for that purpose, while the similarity 

 of the English name, Elm, to the Latin Ulmus, seems to 

 confirm the opinion of the foreign origin of the tree. 



Evelyn sagely remarks : " It seems to be so much more 

 addicted to some places than to others, that I have 

 frequently doubted whether it be a pure indigene or 

 translatitious [introduced] ; and not only because I have 

 hardly ever known any considerable woods of them, but 

 almost continually in tufts, hedge-rows, and mounds ; and 

 that Shropshire, and several other counties, have rarely 

 any growing in many miles together. In the meantime, 

 some affirm they were first brought out of Lombardy, 

 where indeed I have observed very goodly trees about 

 the rich grounds, with Pines among them." Dr. Hunter, 

 however, Evelyn's editor, is of oj)inion that " the Elm is 

 certainly a native of this country;" and he has much 



