THE WYCH ELM 87 



distinct species ; but it seldom matures its seed. It 

 was introduced by "William III. for clipped hedges, on 

 account of its rapid growth. It has branches which 

 spread almost as widely as those of the Common Elm, 

 and the bark of which, at first smooth, becomes after- 

 wards more corky than that of any other Elm, not 

 excepting the form known as the Cork Elm {U. 

 suberosa). The leaves are large and coarse; and 

 the calyx-lobes and stamens each four in number, 

 instead of the more frequent five. Many of the Elms 

 near Kensington Palace belong to this variety ; but 

 except for its handsomely furrowed bark and rapid 

 growth, it has not much specially to recommend it, 

 as its rapidity of development renders it liable 

 to the defect known as " star-shake," which makes 

 it less fit for boat-building or other uses. 



The variety which, it is suggested, from its abun- 

 dance in that county, may be known as the Essex 

 Elm ( U. ni'tida of Syme, or U. el'egans of Edward 

 Forster's MSS.), forms fine straight-stemmed trees 

 with gracefxiUy curving but only slightly pendulous 

 boughs, and with leaves which are not very large, but 

 smooth and shining, of a dark shade of green, and 

 with a tapering point and regularly serrate margin 

 somewhat resembling in their delicate outline the 

 foliage of the Hornbeam. 



All these forms are classed as Wych Elms, from 

 the seed-cavity in their samaras being below the 

 centre, and several of them are worth consideration 

 by the tree planter. Like various foreign species, 

 they are commonly grafted upon the hardy typical 

 Scotch Elm, which is itself mainly reproduced from 



