NURSERY AND PLANTING. 



79 



frequently turned over, to prevent them from turning mouldy, 

 a circumstance which often happens when they are kept in 

 sacks, or too closely confined. The same enemies attack them 

 that attack the sweet or Spanish chestnut, both in the seed- 

 house, and also after they are committed to the ground. What 

 has been said on the after-culture of the sweet chestnut is 

 applicable to this tree also, only as the timber is far less va- 

 luable, of course a much less number of plants should be ori- 

 ginated. The horse-chestnut, like most other soft-wooded 

 trees, may be safely removed when of a large size, and when 

 planted with a view to give effect in park scenery, should not 

 be less than from six to ten feet high when planted ; by which 

 means, and by carefully guarding them for a few years against 

 the attacks of cattle, they will the sooner be able to stand un- 

 protected than if planted when of a smaller size. 



Elm.— ( Ulmus.) 



Of this genus there are six species, which are natives of 

 this country, and all of them possessing considerable merits 

 as timber-trees. Of these, the Ulmus cam2)estris, English 

 elm, and Ulmus 7nontana, Scotch or Wych elm, are considered 

 the most valuable. The former of these is a very ornamental 

 tree, considered either as a hedge-row tree, or to stand singly 

 in the park, and several beautiful specimens may be seen of 

 it in many of our best planted English parks. It is an ex- 

 ceedingly useful tree all over England, and it is with regret 

 that we see it so frequently, nay, almost universally mutilated 

 into so disgusting and ugly a state in our hedge-rows. " No- 

 thing certainly can be more tiresome," says a very intelligent 

 author, and keen observer of the mismanagement of this tree, 



in travelling through the flat countries than the continual 

 succession of meagre elms, like poles ; from which we are 

 now and then relieved by Lombardy poplars ! which are worse, 

 if possible, though occasionally, no doubt, by a much finer 

 plant than either, the elder." 



The wood of the English elm is very far inferior to that of 

 the Scotch elm, both in durability and value. It is stated by 

 Sang, in confirmation of this assertion, that, " in the sales 



