ELM FAMILY 
great size, or because of some great event occurring beneath 
their branches. For example, the Washington Elm in Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts, is so called 
because beneath its shade Gen- 
eral Washington is said to have 
first drawn his sword, on taking 
command of the American army. 
The famous treaty of William 
Penn with the Indians was made 
beneath the branches of an enor- 
mous elm, which remained stand- 
ing in the suburbs of Philadel- 
phia until 1810, when it was 
blown down, Its site is marked 
by a marble column and its age was estimated to be two 
hundred and thirty-three years. 
White Elm, Ulmus americana. Samar- 
as 1%’ long. 
SLIPPERY ELM. RED ELM 
Ulmus pubescens— Ulmus filva. 
fulva, reddish yellow, refers to the color of the wood. Pzdescens, 
downy. Slippery characterizes the inner bark, 
Common. Sixty to seventy feet in height, trunk sometimes two 
feet in diameter and spreading branches which form a broad, open, 
flat-topped head. Prefers banks of streams and fertile hillsides ; 
roots fibrous. Ranges from St. Lawrence River to Florida and 
throughout the entire Mississippi valley. 
Bark.—Dark brown tinged with red, divided by shallow fissures, 
and covered with large loose plates. Branchlets stout, bright green, 
later light brown, finally dark gray or brown. 
Wood.—Dark brown or red; heavy, hard, close-grained, strong, 
tough, durable in contact with the soil, and easy to split while green. 
When boiled or steamed it becomes very flexible. Used for fence 
posts. railway ties, sills of buildings, agricultural implements. Sp. 
gr., 0.6956; weight of cu. ft., 43.35 Ibs. 
Winter Buds.—Leal-luds ovate, rather obtuse, one-fourth of an 
inch long, covered with tawny hairs. Flower-buds larger than leaf- 
buds. Inner scales enlarge with the growing shoot and become 
green, obtuse, hairy, the innermost serve as stipules for a time. 
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