80 



THK PRACTICAL GARDENEU. 



of these timbers, the English elm, amongst good judges, sel- 

 dom brings more than a half, or even a third of the price of 

 the Scotch elm, although both be of equal size and age. 

 Prejudice, no doubt, may have some share in this matter, but 

 certainly the timber of the one is very inferior to that of the 

 other. Indeed, if it be considered that the one species is 

 exceedingly hardy, and universally raised from seeds, and 

 that the other may be even termed delicate, at least in Scot- 

 land, there can be little hesitation in determining which de- 

 serves the })rcfcrcnce as a forest tree. The English elm 

 is too fre(jucntly raised from layers or suckers. These never 

 make the best trees : and they always produce suckers from 

 their roots, and disfigure the grounds in which they stand. 

 When intended for ornamental trees for the park or the 

 lawn, they ought to be budded or grafted on the Scotch elm ; in 

 this way trees of superior vigour and figure will be obtained, 

 and will never produce a sucker." Of this elm there appears to 

 be very many in Scotland, although there are few of the Scotch 

 elms, comparatively speaking, to be met with in England. 



The Scotch elm attains a considerable magnitude, one of 

 which is described in the Selkirkshire Report, p. ^87, as being 

 thirty feet in circumference, at four feet from the ground. And 

 another, which we have frequently measured, which stands on 

 the lawn at the east end of Taymouth Castle, is still a growing 

 tree, and is fifteen feet nine inches in girth, nearly six feet from 

 the ground. The merits of tlus species, in respect to its effect as 

 an ornamental tree, places it next to the oak, to which it nearly 

 approaches in its appearance, when cultivated in the grove or 

 profitable plantations ; " if properly nursed anj trained, it 

 becomes a straight, tall, and large-stemmed tree. In hedge- 

 rows it also becomes most useful and durable timber; and 

 in open woods it naturally assumes many fine casts and forms 

 for the purpose of ship-building and the like. In short, the 

 timber of this tree is so useful and valuable, that it is always 

 prized next to the oak." 



The soil in which this elm seems to prosper best is in a 

 deep rich loam, althougli it will accommodate itself to almost 

 all soils. In light sandy soils, upon a rocky bottom, this tree 

 becomes most valuable in regard to its timber. Wet tilly clayi 



