7 



OF FOREST-TREES. 117 



that, for want of being seasonably transplanted, must needs have hindered CHAP. IV. 

 the procerity of their ample and indulgent mother. v^vw 



2. For though both these sorts are raised of appendices or suckers, as 

 anon we shall describe, yet this latter comes well from the samera, 

 or seeds, and therefore I suppose it to be the ancient Atinia ; for such 



This is found growing in hedge-rows in several parts of England. The branches have a smooth 

 grayish bark, and grow erect. The leaves are narrower, and more pointed than those of the 

 English Elm, and are smoother; they are later in coming out in the spring than those, but 

 continue longer in autumn. 



6. ULMUS {AMERICANA ) foliis aequaliter serratis ; basi inaequalibus. Sp. PI. 327. Ulmus 

 fructu membranaceo, foliis simplicissirae serratis. Gron. Virg. 145. The American elm. 



This species grows plentifully about Fort Anne, in North America, of which there are two 

 kinds, the white and the red. Of the bark of the former boats are made. 



The ELM is stationed in the class and order Penlandria Digynia, there being in each 

 flower five stamina and two styles. The flowers are in full bloom about the beginning 

 of April, and the leaves open about the middle of the same month ; but the seeds do not 

 ripen before the beginning of June. 



Of this tree there are many varieties which are preserved in the nursery-gai'dens, but 

 their difference is not remarkable enough to deserve notice ; they are therefore omitted, 

 as are also those with variegated leaves, of which there are severals sorts propagated 

 in the nurseries about London. 



Elms are propagated by layers, by seeds, and by grafting on their own kind. 



In order to propagate them by layers, proper stools for the purpose must be first 

 obtained; to procure which, let a piece of good ground be double dug, and let Elms 

 of about four or five feet high be planted in it, at the distance of about ten feet : if they 

 make good shoots in the first yeai-, they may be cut down early the spring following ; 

 if not, they should remain two years before they are headed for stools; which should 

 be done by cutting them down to within half a foot of the ground. After they are cut 

 down they should be suffered to grow undistui-bed for two years: The ground between 

 the stools must be dug in the winter, and constantly hoed as the weeds arise in the 

 summer ; and at the end of that time, that is two years, the branches growing from these 

 stools will be fit for layering, which may be performed thus : Open a piece of ground wide 

 enough to receive a whole branch, and let the hollow be about half a foot deep ; then 

 splash the branch with a knife, near the body of the stool, that its head may be more 

 readily brought into the prepared place: Next, thrust an hooked stick into the ground 

 to hold it down; takeoff all the superfluous branches which cross, and would otherwise 

 incommode those that are to be continued: After this, slit all the remaining young 

 branches half- way through, turning the edge of the knife towards the extremity of the 

 branch. When this is done the mould should be gently put amongst them, and they 



