THE WYCH ELM. 



537 



RAMIFICATION. 



The trunk of the Wych Elm does not continue undivided for 

 a great height, as so often happens v/ith the English Elm. Instead 

 of this it divides into large limbs, and its individuality is lost. 

 Sometimes the division occurs at some distance above the ground, 

 sometimes near it. The limbs spread outwards as they ascend, and, 

 unlike the English Elm, those near the top of the tree extend the 

 furthest. They often form long sweeping curves that are not found 

 in the English species, and the lower boughs are usually pendent. 

 The branches and twigs make twists and curves, and are far less 

 rigid than is the case with the other species, where the branches 

 ramify but little and end in a bunch of twigs which are divided 

 from one another by a smaller angle, and are, by comparison, rather 



