The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1894-04-12
THE ELMS OF OHIO.
Brought In Review by Prof. Kellerman,
of the Ohio State University.

Brought In Review by Prof. Kellerman,
Of the Ohio State University.
e 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 arborcous, 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 II e
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 a samara; it is bor-
dered all around by membraneous
wing.
Three species occur native in Ohio.
though but two of these are we'll
known, namely. the Red or Slippery
Elm (Ulmus fulva), and the American
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
raccmed fowers-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 infallibls diagnosis. The Irregular
ly 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 frcm
each other. The first presents branches
with some angularity, and is destitute
Of the feathery spray peculiar to tie
white elm. The latter has no abrupt-
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 a
very pleasing aspect
The red elm never attains majesty OF
even pronounced beauty. The white
elm is the type of arboreal grandeur
and the embodiment of beauty and
grace. Whether it spreads into the
form of an "Etruscan vase" rises to
great height, bearing a few lofty
spreading branches or is column ci
verdure from base to summit. no tree
of the forest surpasses our white elm.
As an ornamental or shade tree, the
red elm should never be substituted fer
the white. The minute characters that
serve to distinguish the species shou d
be we'll known so that young trees
may be correctly identified at planting
time. Tho leaves of the red elm al q
larger; they are very rough on tie
upper surface. In the white elm they
are nearly or quite smooth. The buGs
of the red elm are larger and have Z
covering of rusty hairs They are slen'
der and SMOOTH in the white elm. The
branches are elongated and naked in
the case of the red elm; the branch!eta
are numerous, forming feathery spray
in the case of the white elm.
When fruits are borne, the two elms
are seen to be quite different. These
are round, larger and smooth in the
red elm. Those of the white elm are
fringed with hairs and notcned at TIE
upper end
The white elm is rapid grower; i,
grows in almost any soil, is easily
transplanted. bears severe pruning
though it needs little or none; it has q
variety of shapes; the roots are nuner
Gus, strong. extensively spreading. sc
as to anchor the tree against severe
storms-ail of which characteristics en-
force its usefulness as a tree for shat {
and ornament, though its intrinsic
beauty alone should suffice to esta blist
its superiority.