The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1894-12-13
THE ELMS OF OHIO.

Brought in Review by Prof Keilerman.
of the Ohio State University.
The elms belong to the genus Ulmus,
and include sixteen living and about
forty fossil species They occur in
North America, Europe and Asia. All
of the species are arboreous, and some
of them are trees of great majesty and
beauty.
They have simple leaves, in two rows
on the twigs, oblique at the base, the
largest side being above. The margins
are coarsely and doubly serrate. The
veins are prominent, running from the
midrib parallel and but slightly
branched. The flowers precede the
leaves in early spring, and the fruit is
ripe before the leaves are fully formed.
The fruit is called samara; it is bor-
dered all around by n membraneous
wing.
Three species occur native in Ohio.
though but two of these are well
known. namely, the Red or Slippery
Elm (Ulmus fulva), and the Amer can
or White Elm (Ulmus americana). The
third species is called Rock or Cork
Elm (Ulmus racemosa). The branches
of this are generally corky-ridged.
hence the latter name. The leaves are
much like those of the white elm, but
with veins more simple and straight
The bud scales are ciliate, also some
what pubescent as are the young
branchlets. In the white elm the buds
and branchlets are smooth. The fruit
is like that of the white elm though a
little larger. The species is however,
Enthusiastically distinguished by its
racemed flowers-the flowers in the
other species being in close fascicles.
This characteristic will be equally
evident in the fruit cluster.
and enables one to make
an infallible diagnosis. The irregular
~ corky ridges of the branches are
prominent, though it must be remem-
bered that they are not always absent
from the white elm.
This elm is found along river banks,
but is perhaps not abundant Reports
of its occurrence throughout the state
are solicited.
The fully grown red and white elms
are in appearance very different frt m
each other. The first presents branche
with some angularity, and is destitu 9
of the feathery spray peculiar to t. Q
white elm. The latter has no abrup.-
ness in the branching; it exhibits grace
full curves and has dropping branch
, es that are clothed with numerous tiny
, branchlets, presenting even in winter
very pleasing aspect
| The red ell never attains majesty OF
even pronounced beauty. The white
! elm is the type of arboreal grandeur
and the embodiment of beauty ard
! grace. Whether it spreads into the
| form of an "Etruscan vase" rises 70
great height, bearing a few 10:
Spreading branches. or is a column
vcrdure from base to summit. no tr, G
! of the forest surpasses our white elm.
| AS an ornamental or shade tree, the
red elm should never be substituted for
the white. The minute characters tn;
serve to distinguish the species shou d
be we'll known so that young trees
NAV be correctly identified at plantirg
| time. The leaves of the red elm a:s
larger; they are very rough on ii
upper surface In the white elm they
are nearly or quite smooth. The buo:
of the red elm are larger AMI have ;
covering OF rusty hairs. They are sleE
der and smooth in TIC white elm. Tx
branches are elongated anil nahed L
the case of the rcd elm; the branch e.:
are numerous. forming feathery spr, J
! in the case of the white elm.
When fruits are borne. the two elm!
are seen to be quite different The I
are round, larger and smooth in TIKI
red elm. These of the white elm are
fringed with hairs and notcned at TIT
upper end.
The white elm is rapid grower; j
grows in almost any soil, is easil.
transplanted. bears severe pruning
though it needs little or none; it has I
variety of shapes; the roots arc nurner
Gus, strong. extensively spreading, s.
as to anchor the tree against sever
storms-all of which characteristics en-
force its usefulness as tree for shaf
and ornament. though its intrins;
beauty alone should suffice to establisl
its superiority.