32 



BRITISH FOREST TREES. 



not very nearly allied to U. montana, yet the above 

 peculiarity of appearance may only arise from indi- 

 vidual tenderness, and may not be accompanied by 

 other difference of character. ' 



The elm, more especially the broad-leaved Scotch 

 elm, has a peculiar fan-like sloping-to-one-side spread 

 of branches, most perceptible while young ; hence 

 the tree when grown up, has generally a slight bend- 

 ing in the stem, which renders it very fitting for 

 floor- timbers of vessels, the only part of a ship, ex- 

 cepting bottom plank, to which it is applicable, as it 

 soon decays above water. Its great toughness and 

 strength, however, render it good floors. 



There are some kinds of foreign elm w^hich de- 

 serve attention. Some time ago we planted several 

 of these, and lately cut down one of about six inches 

 diameter, which we found a great deal harder and 

 stronger timber than our U. montana. We had 

 this kind under the name of the Broad-leaved Ame- 

 rican. The bark was rather lighter in colour, and 

 smoother, than U. viontana ; the leaves were rough 

 and large, and the annual shoots extremely luxuri- 

 ant; but, probably owing to climate, or difference of 

 circumstance, the exposed situation where we had it 

 growing being very unlike the close American fo- 

 rest, it did not carry up its vigour of growing into 



