THE ELM. 



117 



marked with dark-coloured blotches. These spots 

 contain the instruments appointed for ensuring 

 the decay of the leaves. During the winter months 

 the leaves remain on the ground unaltered except 



SPOTTED ELM-LEAF. 



in colour; but in spring the spots become matured, 

 the surface cracks, and a minute fungus appears : 

 decomposition spreads from these points, and the 

 leaves very soon decay. 



Among the most remarkable Elm-trees re- 

 corded by various authors as now existing in Eng- 

 land, the following are most worthy of mention. 



The Chipstead Elm, an admirable engraving of 

 which is given by Strutt in his Sylva Britan- 

 nica," stands in the park at Chipstead Place, in 

 Kent. It is sixty feet high ; twenty feet in cir- 

 cumference at the base ; and fifteen feet eight 

 inches, at three feet and a half from the ground. 

 It contains 268 feet of solid timber ; but this bulk 

 is comparatively small compared to what it would 

 have been, had it not sustained the loss of some 



