THE ELM. 227 



reason, on his side, for the Atinian Elm, which is uni- 

 versally considered to be the same with our Common Elm, 

 did not, according to Pliny, ripen its seeds in Italy, any 

 more than it does in England. But in this country, as 

 well as in that, it produces abundance of suckers ; and it 

 is by no means uncommon for plants that increase freely 

 by roots to produce abortive seed-vessels. The Great 

 White Convolvulus^ or Bindweed, for instance, and the 

 Lesser Periwinkle,^ which are most prolific by their roots, 

 and are undoubted natives, rarely perfect their seeds. 

 Besides which, the authors who maintain that the Elm 

 was introduced into Britain as a companion of the Vine 

 appear to have lost sight of Pliny's assertion that the 

 Atinian or Common Elm was never used for the purpose, 

 on account of its excessive foliage. On the whole, then, 

 the Elm has as good a claim to be considered a native of 

 Britain as of any of the other European states, not excepting 

 even Italy, from which it is said to have been brought. 



The Common Elm is generally propagated by suckers, 

 which spring up in great abundance round the trunk, or 

 by grafting on young plants of Wych Elm which have 

 been raised from seed. It grows most rapidly in light 

 land, but requires a stiff strong soil to produce good 

 timber. It will bear any amount of pruning, but needs 

 none : the custom of lopping Elms in hedge-rows, and 

 converting them into gigantic brooms, is as injurious to 

 the timber as it is destructive of picturesque effect. It is 

 to be presumed, however, that farmers who adopt this 

 practice are remunerated by the additional produce of 

 their lands thus thrown open to the sun and air. The 

 Elm bears transplanting remarkably well even at an 

 advanced age ; hence it is well adapted for planting in 

 the neighbourhood of modern houses where a speedy 

 shade is desired. For avenues it is unrivalled, forming a 

 delightful shade, and crossing at a lofty elevation and at 

 the exact angle which is most pleasing to the eye. The 

 1 Calystegia sepium. ^ Vinca minor. 



