THE OTHER HARDWOODS - 151 
Most of it is now used for furniture, and for 
making coffins. 
Thriving well even amid the smoke of great 
towns, it is, by reason of its graceful branch and 
twig formation, one of the best of our park trees. 
Unfortunately, however, it is apt to have its 
large branches and heavy limbs crack and fall 
without warning on hot, still days in summer ; 
and this can only be prevented by a species of 
mutilation, such as is to be noticed in all the 
parks of London. A periodical cry goes forth 
in certain newspapers ‘against this so-called ‘ van- 
dalism’ on the part of the officers in charge of 
the Royal parks; but it is probably only through 
their careful and considerate action in carrying 
out toppings and loppings, though never wantonly 
and unnecessarily as is often represented, that so 
very, very few accidents have hitherto occurred 
in our much-frequented pleasure-grounds of the 
metropolis. 
As elm has so much in common with ash, 
maple, &c., when grown as part of a woodland 
crop, its treatment under such circumstances can 
best take place as subsequently described for 
these other trees.all grouped together. 
