52 



than the majority of the trees around the Common. 

 They were no doubt standing ou the ground when the 

 others were planted, although nothing is said in regard 

 to this in the Essex Institute Historical Collection 

 (vol 4, p. 2), where Mr. B. F. Browne's interesting 

 and exhaustive account of the Salem Common and the 

 surrounding estates is published. When the Common 

 was levelled in 1802 it was planted with the Lombardy 

 poplar ; but, as these trees proved of short-lived 

 beauty, they were replaced by elms, ashes, etc., during 

 the year 1817, and possibly the years following. We 

 speak of the Common as being planted with elms ; 

 but, in point of fact, less than one-half of the trees in 

 it are elms. It is much to be regretted that, when one 

 of the elms has died, it has not always been replaced 

 by another elm. Unwisely, however, maples and other 

 trees have been planted in the places vacated by failing 

 elms ; and, unless immediate steps are taken to rectify 

 this error, we are likely, at no distant day, to see the 

 beauty and dignity of Salem Common give way to an 

 ordinary plantation of maples and other trees entirely 

 unsuited to this particular situation, for which place no 

 tree can possibly compare with the American elm in 

 desirability. The elm, too, absorbs great quantities of 

 water through its roots, besides not producing a too 

 dense shade. It is, therefore, a most valuable tree in 

 low grounds, like our Common, where the soil would 

 naturally be quite damp throughout the season. 



The slippery elm (Ulmus fulva), whose mucilaginous 

 inner bark used to be more in repute for certain mouth 

 and throat complaints than now, is a naiive of the 

 county. It is found in the woods of Wenham and 

 Boxford. Mrs. Horner, our Georgetown botanist, has 



