76 ABNORMAL FRUITING OF THE COMMON ELM.
subject deeply shows wisdom in not expressing a dogmatic
opinion. To whichever species it may belong, Prof. Boulger
has called it6 "the Essex Elm," on account of its remarkable
abundance in the county.
We have also in Essex a larger and more spreading form
(represented by certain fine and well-known specimens at Great
Saling), with branches more or less pendant, as well as a form
(occurring, I believe, only sporadically) with thick, cork-like,
deeply-corrugated bark. Both these forms are scarce in the
county.*
The extraordinary abundance of the elm in Essex (taking
together and as a whole all its various species, forms, hybrids,
and varieties, or whatever they may prove to be) is well shown
by the fact that it appears to have given name to two Essex
parishes: namely, Elmdon, near Saffron Walden, and Elmstead,
near Colchester—both of them manors mentioned in Domesday
Book.7
To account for the extraordinary prodigality of fruiting by
this one particular species of tree in one particular season is dim.
cult, if not impossible. It is true that the mild and genial
autumn of 1908 was of a nature likely to ripen young wood and
fit it for abundant fruiting in the succeeding spring; but we
have had many such autumns without any such result
following.
Nevertheless, it seems probable that the phenomenon was
due, in fact, to some unusual combination of favourable con-
ditions which occurred in the course of last year; for, in
November, my cousin, Mr. Reginald W. Christy, of Boyton
Hall, near Chelmsford, observed that the buds of the elms
thickened in an altogether abnormal manner and appeared as
6 Forest Trees, ii, p. 143 (? 1899).
*Since this paper was read, a year ago, no fewer than three critical articles on the specific
differences of the various British Elms have appeared, and these afford striking evidence of the
divergence of opinion which exists in reference to this matter. The Rev. Augustin Ley has
published (Journ, of Bot., 1910, pp. 65-72) a careful, descriptive monograph, in which he divides
the British Elms into five "species" and various "varieties," basing his characters mainly on
the shape of the samara. The method followed seems, however, somewhat too cast-iron-like
and arbitrary; for the writer admits that some of these so-called "species" and "varieties"
are probably hybrids. He implies thereby that other intermediate forms must occur; yet he
makes no effort to ascertain which are hybrids and which are not. Mr. Augustine Henry (in
a paper read before the Linnean Society on the 7th April, 1910) has stated that he considers
there are only two really distinct British species (U. montana and V. glabra), which produce a
number of so-called "varieties," doubtless hybrids. Mr. Henry's paper is of the greatest
importance. Finally, Prof. G. S. Boulger has published (Selborne Mag., 1910, pp. 99-102,146-149,
and 172-174) an excellent article discussing the whole subject in light and chatty form.
7 V.C.H., Essex, i., pp. 471 and 491 (1903). It is possible, however, that one or both
took its name from one Almar, a Saxon.