Ill 



THE ELM FAMILY 



Because of its arching branches and its 

 drooping, lace-like twigs, the elm is a favorite 

 shade tree. It bends gracefully to the breeze 

 and is seldom broken by the wind. The oriole 

 loves to hang her nest upon its long flexible 

 branches. In New England the elm is a favor- 

 ite tree, not only by the country wayside and 

 farmhouse, but ia the spacious city avenues 

 and parks everywhere are rows and borders of 

 ma^iflcent elms. However, in cities where 

 much soft coal is burned the tree does not thrive, 

 for the sooft clings to the rough leaves and in 

 time smothers the tree. 



The elms are an ancient race. According to 

 Norse mythology, Odin, the god of heaven, made 

 the first woman from a branch of the elm tree. 

 The early Britons considered the elm a good 

 weather prophet, and regulated the planting of 

 certain seeds by tjie coming of its leaves. Thus 

 the old rhymed proverb warned them : 



"When the elm leaf is as big as a mouse's ear 

 Then to sow barley never fear." 

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