THE 
OUB ELKS. 
Of all common native trees which submit 
readily to the requirements of the gardener, 
the American Elm is the most universally 
prized for shade and ornament. No otlier 
tree assumes such elegant forms of top, or 
wel.mM.ut. 
slowly.udthed.ittidy*I, 
WHITE ELM. 
presents such graceful spray as this, and 
few are more cosmopolitan in regard to soil 
and cultiu-e. -Notwithstanding the familial- 
acquaintance which nearly evei-y one sus¬ 
tains with this noble tree, it is very com¬ 
monly confounded with two other native and 
less valuable species. It is importaut, there¬ 
fore, that the difterence between these spe¬ 
cies be known. 
Ulmus Americana, the common Elm which 
is distributed throughout the Northern 
States, is known under a great variety of 
names. It is so variable on different soils 
that farmers often recognize two or three 
different kinds, and regard these kinds as 
distinct from each other as the .Slippery Elm 
is from the Ulravx Americana itself. Trees 
which grow on rather high land, in e.Kposed 
places, producing good timber, are usually 
known as White or Itock Elms, althougli both 
these names are often apjilied to Uhrme race- 
rnoea. The perplexity surrounding the com¬ 
mon names of our Elms, is pi-oof enough of 
the imperfect knowledge concerning them. 
The only term which appears to be infalli¬ 
bly associated with one .species is “Slippery,” 
which is applied to Ulmun fulva. 
Our three species of Elms are never more 
easily distingui.shcd than in winter and 
spring. The buds of the common IVhite 
Elm, UlrnuH Americana, iivo long and smooth. 
Those of the Red or Slli>pery Elm, (/Imue 
fvlva, are short and liairy, while the corky 
bark and peculiar habit of the Coi-k Elm, 
UlrnuH raarmuHa, at once distinguish the s])(v 
cies from both the others. Everyone is far 
miliar with the peculiar though various 
forms of the White Elm. 'The spray of the 
Ked or .Slippery Elm is stiff and straggling, 
branches give it a stimted jif. 
usually retains its main trunk someth! g 
Jmannerof theFirs, .and Bends oft tout 
hori-zontal or slightly inclimng binncheS' 
in outline of leaf the three BP«f « ^ 
strildngly difterent. 'The leaves of t e Coik 
Elm usually taper more abruptly .! .1 
than do those of the other ^)ecics. When 
young, the leaves of the EedElm are downy, 
but the upper surface soon becomes haishly 
l^e fruit affords decisive distinctions. 
That of the White Elm is small, .and hairy 
on the edges. That of the Cork Elm is 
larger, more hairy, thicker, witli a sweet and 
nearly edible meat. The fruit of this spe¬ 
cies may be compared to a Pumpkin seed 
The Eed Elm fruit is variable in shape, but 
Is usually nearly circular in outline, as in 
the figiu-e, and it is always smooth on the 
edges. 
The wood of the Bed Elm is d.ark colored, 
soft, and straight grained. In this last char¬ 
acter it is distinguished from both the other 
species. 'The wood of the Cork Elm is tough 
and very elastic. 
For ornament the White Elm is superior 
The Eed Elm grows rapidly and takes well 
to different soils, but its habit is too stiff and 
unsymmetrieal to allow of any considerable 
use as an ornamental tree. Tlie Cork Elm 
is decidedly picturesque. Those who do not 
know the tree, however, geuerally take it to 
be a stunted and diseased White Elm, and 
The tree is 
i-fVctly hardy throughout the North; in¬ 
deed it attains its greatest perfection north of 
latitude 43°. in e.astern extension, both this 
and the Eed Elm barely reach New England. 
The English Elm, Ulmus campestris, which 
was eariylutroduced into this country, and 
extensively planted in the Eastern States, 
principally in and near Boston, and on Long 
SLIPPERY ELM. 
their lm))resHioim arc therefore iiiipleasanl. 
have never yet seen a person, other than a 
botmiist, who recognized any permanent dls- 
tmctlon between this anil the White Elm. 
Ihe (.ork Elm is a very slow grower. 1 
have never known a tree above 30 Inelies in 
- ■ameter. 1 should recommend the use of 
the Cork Elm more as a c.uriosity to he 
planted at some dlsiau,,,. from the house, 
CORK ELM. 
Island, is a lofty tree of less spreading habit 
than our White Elm, the general forin of its 
head being more inclined to be pyramidal. 
As a shade tree it is more compact and dense 
in its foliage, which makes it more suitable 
in the formation of masses or groups. 
L. II. Bailey, Jk. 
LAWN BAKINGS. 
'file Yellow-wood, Cladraslis tinitoria, is 
one of our jirettiest native trees. It reaches 
its northern limit on the Ohio, but is hardy 
as far north as Boston. Its llowers are pea- 
shaiied, white, sweet-scented, appearing lu 
June in great profusion, in long, drooping 
racemes, completely covering the tree. 
'I'he length of the intervals between the. 
cuttings of the lawn cannot be definitely 
stated, as the. growth of grass varies accoiTl- 
ing to the condition of the weather. In a. 
damp, growing season it should be mown 
once a week at least, while in very dry weath¬ 
er it may remain uncut for two weeks. 
When we think of the great variety of our 
native trees, says a eorrespoiulent of Vick's 
Magazine, It would seem that there is no 
jiropcr reiLsou why they .should not heiumver- 
oiisly re|)resented on largo grounds, and es¬ 
pecially on the grounds of public institutions, 
which are often ample for the purpose. The 
value of these trees In their ornamental 
aspect Is snlllchml; to warrant a considerable 
effort to proiaire ami plant them. 
'The, (lillleulties attendant upon procuring 
many siiecles of native trees Is a valid ex¬ 
cuse for their disuse on private grounds. 
But a far greater variety Is obtainable from, 
nurserymen than Is geuerally employed.. 
