54 



THE ELM. 



The Elm has lofty dignity, combined 

 with elegance. It rises to a greater height 

 than English trees in general do. Its foliage, 

 though the leaves are small, is ample ; yet it 

 hangs lightly on the aspiring branches, and 

 forms a fine subject for the painter and land- 

 scape engraver. It is the first considerable 

 tree, which introduces a bright and cheerful 

 green in spring ; but, before this, its boughs 

 are darkened with innumerable flowers of a 

 dusky hue, which, indeed, are often as full as 

 the foliage. 



Elm timber is valuable for a vast variety 

 of purposes ; but, as it grows quicker and is 

 inferior in quality to oak, it bears a much 



