THE ELM. 



massy form of the one, dividing into abrupt, twist- 

 ing, irregular limbs, yet compact in its foliage, i 

 and the easy sweep of the other, the simplicity of ' 

 its branches, and the looseness of its hanging 

 leaves, characterize both these trees with so much 

 precision, that at any distance at which the eye 

 can distinguish the form, it may also distinguish 

 the difference. The Elm has not so distinct a 

 character. It partakes so much of the Oak, that 

 when it is rough and old, it may easily, at a little 

 distance, be mistaken for one ; though the Oak, 

 I mean such an Oak as is strongly marked with 

 its peculiar character, can never be mistaken for 

 the Elm. This is certainly a defect in the Elm ; 

 for strong characters are a great source of pictu- 

 resque beauty. This defect, however, appears 

 chiefly in the skeleton of the Elm. In full foliage 

 its character is better marked. No tree is better 

 adapted to receive grand masses of light. In this 

 respect it is superior both to the Oak and the 

 Ash. Nor is its foliage, shadowy as it is, of the 

 heavy kind. Its leaves are small, and this gives 

 it a natural lightness ; it commonly hangs loosely, 

 and is in general very picturesque. The Elm 

 naturally grows upright ; and when it meets 

 with a soil it loves, rises higher than the ge- 

 nerality of trees ; and after it has assumed the 

 dignity and hoary roughness of age, few of its 

 forest brethren (though, properly speaking, it is 

 not a forester) excel it in grandeur and beauty. 

 The Elm is the first tree that salutes the early 

 spring with its light and cheerful green, — a tint j 

 w^hich contrasts agreeably with the Oak, whose \ 

 early leaf has generally more of the olive cast. 

 We see them sometimes in fine harmony together, 



