1934 SPRING AND FALL ^ THE HOUSE OF GURNEY, INC. YANKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA 
CHINESE ELM—(Continued) 
A Scene in our Chinese Elm Nursery 
Here it is, that wonderful, hardy, extremely 
rapid growing shade tree that is taking the coun¬ 
try by storm. It is quite similar to the American 
Elm in appearance, having the same great height 
and majesty, with innumerable slender branches, 
and narrow, elliptical leaves. For grace and 
beauty, it compares favorably with the Birches. 
There are many other things, too, that make 
the Chinese Elm so desirable, chief of these being 
its very rapid growth (it probably grows faster 
than any other shade tree), and its marvelous 
adaptability tO”soils and conditions where other 
varieties cannot thrive. For the western, arid 
sections it is positively unexcelled—it is ideally 
suited to the dry soil and extreme temperatures. 
It develops into a splendid shade tree, tall, 
bi'oad, and protective, besides being a useful 
windbreak tree. Since its introduction by the 
Department of .Agriculture about 20 years ago, 
it has undergone the most rigid experiments, and 
does well in practically every locality of the 
United States. We cannot recommend it too 
highly. Leaves stay on the trees much longer 
A Chinese Elm Trimmed “Umbrella” 
in the autumn than on the American Elm. 
Among the many valuable contributions of 
northern China to American horticulture, the 
Chinese Elm (Ulmus pumila) stands out as one 
likely to prove of increasing value to certain sec¬ 
tions of the United States. First introduced in 
1908 by Frank N. Meyer, agricultural explorer, 
from near Peking, Chihli, China, the tree is es¬ 
tablished in a number of places in this country, 
and seeds and plants are offered for sale by sev¬ 
eral nurseries in the South and West. 
It is a rapid grower, with slender, almost wiry 
branches. The leaves are elliptical and smaller 
than those of the American Elm. If allowed to 
Chinese Elm 15 Yrs. Old in Yankton 
assume its natural habit, the Chinese Elm de¬ 
velops numerous branches along its trunk, mak¬ 
ing a rather dense growth from near the base and 
resembling in some instances large shrubs. It is 
one of the first trees to leaf out in the spring and 
the last to shed its leaves in the fall. Throughout 
the long season the leaves remain a beautiful 
green and are remarkably free from the usual 
plant diseases and insect injuries so common in 
many of the other Elms. 
Tree Is Very Hardy 
It is very hardy and has proved valuable under 
a greater variety of climatic and soil conditions 
than any tree yet introduced. Very favorable 
reports have been received from practically every 
section of the country. It has proved winter 
hardy in most trials in the Dakotas, Minnesota, 
New York, Montana, and other northern states. 
Its resistance to drought, alkali, and extremes 
of temperature render it an especially valuable 
tree in the Great Plains region where desirable 
shade trees are few, in the semi-arid South and 
Southwest, and ,in fact in almost any portion 
of the continental United States. 
As a shade, windbreak, and avenue tree, the 
Chinese Elm has proved to be the most successful 
introduction of this kind thus far attempted. 
A recent report from one of the department's 
explorers in Manchuria brings out the fact that this 
tree is used there for hedges 2 to 3 feet high; in some 
instances being used for screens up to 12 to 15 feet 
in height. It is also used there for formal plantings, 
the trunk being trimmed of branches to a height of 
6 to 8 feet, with the top portion of the tree trimmed 
to a conical shape. If the trunk is kept trimmed, 
this Elm will assume a tree-like habit and make a 
splendid shade or avenue tree. Its natural habit of 
growth also makes it valuable as a windbreak. 
Root System 
In sandy soil roots penetrate deeply and make a 
remarkable growth of branched fibrous roots. Often 
it requires two men to pull a tree out of the ground 
after the roots have been cut by the tree-digger. 
Hardiness 
The Siberian Elm has proved hardy in the Dako¬ 
tas, Montana, and other cold climates having with¬ 
stood 30 below zero without injury. 
There is a Chinese Elm in Pekin, China, that is 
reported to be over two hundred years old and four 
feet in diameter. It has an extensive surface root 
system of fibrous roots and is very easy to transplant. 
It is the first tree to put on foliage in the spring and 
the last to lose its leaves in the fall. The branches 
project from the trunk almost at right angles. 
A Few of Our Transplants 3 Yrs. Old 
The Chinese Elm Makes a Good Hedge 
Page 59 
