THE ELM. 333 
from seed has rendered the genus very confused. About 
twenty sorts of U. campestris are cultivated in nurseries, and 
botanists are unable to determine which are species and which 
are varieties. It is therefore of importance that the planter 
of timber should know that he is possessed of a kind of the 
tree adapted to the purposes intended. 
In England, the tree is chiefly propagated by layers from 
stools, or from suckers from old trees. The former is the 
better mode. A stool is formed by lopping over a plant which 
has become established in the ground. During the ensuing 
summer, the root or stool produces a number of young shoots ; 
when these have completed their growth for the season, they 
are bent down to the depth of five or six inches into the 
ground, and fixed with the earth, having their extremities 
clear above ground, and in an erect position. During the suc- 
ceeding summer these layers become rooted, and another crop 
of young shoots are produced by the stool The layers should 
be removed any time in open weather during winter or early 
in spring, which will make way for the next crop of young 
shoots being laid down as already described. Thus, a stool 
yields a crop of plants yearly ; and that they may become well 
rooted, the soil should be rich, friable, and sandy. 
Unless the ground into which the young plants (layers) are 
to be planted is clean and of the best quality, they should be 
inserted into nursery lines for two years previously to their 
’ being finally planted out. The plants should be a foot apart, 
and the lines two feet distant. Ifthey are intended to remain 
for a longer period, a greater space should be allowed to them 
in the nursery. 
The tree grows freely in soils of very opposite qualities ; it 
may be seen in dry sandy soil, and in the most unctuous clay, 
and in both it grows better than most trees ; but that of an 
intermediate description, rich, soft, and open underneath, is 
best adapted to its development. The young tree forms a 
root more fibrous and bushy than most plants, which adapts 
it for being transplanted when of a size and age beyond that 
which is common. In ordinary soils, the tree usually attains 
