ENGLISH, OR SMALL-LEAVED ELM. Ill 



In the south of England, the usual way of propagating 

 the Elm, is by suckers, thrown up in plenty by the super- 

 ficial roots, or by layers ; the latter mode is esteemed pre- 

 ferable to the first, as layers are said to produce finer trees, 

 and to grow with greater vigour and luxuriance than 

 suckers. In the north of England and Scotland, it has 

 been the common practice to propagate the English Elm 

 by grafting it upon the Ulmus montana ; this practice, 

 however, though highly lauded and recommended by Sang, 

 Hanbury, and other writers, we do not approve of, and 

 to it we attribute, in a great measure, the frequent failure, 

 or rather the stunted growth of the English Elm, where 

 the attempt has been made to rear it as a hedge-row or 

 single tree in our northern districts, and particularly where 

 the soil is of a stiff or clayey nature ; for the Ulmus mon- 

 tana is a tree that will only thrive upon good soil and 

 never displays the magnificent form and dimensions it 

 frequently attains, unless luxuriating in the deep and rich 

 loam of alluvial deposits. It is therefore absolutely neces- 

 sary, in order to ensure success where this stock is made 

 use of, that the engrafted scion should be planted in a 

 rich free soil. 



The English Elm itself is not so fastidious or delicate ; 

 it will grow and thrive upon soils of an inferior description 

 and of various characters, in those of a light as well as 

 of a heavy quality, and frequently attains its largest dimen- 

 sions, and acquires its best properties upon strong clayey 

 loams, much too stiff and adhesive for the growth of the 

 U. montana. We therefore recommend the layers and 

 suckers of the best varieties of the English Elm, wherever 

 they can be procured, to be planted in preference to those 

 grafted upon a different stock, as this operation, we are 

 convinced, is in no way necessary to the after develope- 



