Ulmus 



and the Roman elms are specifically distinct. Our 

 own retains the name of Ulmus campestris, and 

 appears to be a native of southern England. Its 

 habit of not producing fertile seeds must be 

 ascribed to its power of multiplying itself by suckers 

 rather than by a foreign origin. The Italian species 

 has been named U. australis, and is distinguished 

 by its thicker leaves and their larger and more 

 cuspidate apex. When Virgil tells us that there are 

 several kinds he doubtless means the varieties into 

 which the species easily breaks, and also the wych 

 elm, U. montana, which is found in the higher 

 ground of northern Italy. 



The elm was largely planted to support the vines 

 in a vinetum, but seems to have produced nothing 

 that was of use in a vinea. Its timber made the 

 beam of the plough {Ge. i. 170), and its leaves served 

 for litter and fodder (Ge. ii. 446). 



Since elm timber does not readily warp, it was 

 the proper material for ' cardines.' These, with the 

 good leave of the lexicons, are not hinges, but up- 

 right beams let into sockets, and having the planks 

 of the door attached to them. 



Flower, February and March. 

 Italian name, Olmo. 



131 



