316 



THE planter's GUIDE. 



Miller inform us, that it was imported about two centuries 

 since from Germany or France, or possibly from Lombardy, 

 as great numbers are to be seen growing in the last- 

 mentioned country; but that it had not been long in 

 England in the time of Charles II. It abounds at 

 present in all the southern and south-western counties of 

 England, but it never perfects its seed in Britain. This 

 circumstance, together with the fact already stated of no 

 ancient trees of the kind existing, is sufficient to convince 

 us that it derives its origin from more southern latitudes. 



It is, however, now nearly naturalised, and a very 

 noble as well as useful tree. It will grow with aston- 

 ishing luxuriance in a deep and rich loam, united with a 

 mild climate. The growth of the English Elm so situated, 

 compared with that of the Oak, has been found to be 

 nearly as three to two. Although there are at present 

 no specimens of it of very great size, yet from what we 

 know of the vigour of some now on record, it bids fair in 

 another century to become the pride of the English forest, 

 at least in the southern districts of the kingdom."' 



In comparing the two trees, it may be said that the 

 outline or general appearance of the Scotch or Witch Elm, 

 though less stately than that of the English, is strongly 

 featured, approaching nearly to the majesty of the Oak, 

 for which, at a mature age, it might be mistaken at a dis- 

 tance. It is in general inclined to be ragged or scraggy, 

 from the disposition of the branches and the thinness of 

 the spray ; but it is more picturesque than the Enghsh, as 

 is admitted by Gilpin, a judge not easily satisfied in that 

 particular. On a foreground, he says, it is unquestion- 

 ably so, as it hangs more negligently ; though at the same 

 time, with this negligence, it loses in some measure that 



Note VI. 



