Edited Text
The Camperdown Elms
BY GEOFF HOGAN
A friend of mine asked me a question recently regarding Camperdown
Elms. These are among the most unique ornamental trees that we have on the
Island - and some of the oldest. Camperdown Elm, otherwise known as Ulmus
glabra 'Camperdownii', are those strangely sculptured, pendulus trees seen
mostly in the larger urban centers on the Island. Some people refer to
them as umbrella trees, and no doubt other desciptive names as well. Char-
lottetown has some fine old specimens and I remember seeing them somewhere
ina rural ‘partwof ‘the Island:
Most of the Camperdown Elms on the Island were plant-
ed earlier in this century. Unfortunately, they will
be the last: plantved™here; for’ 10 is:now illegal to
import them, or any other species of elm for that
matter. All elms may transport the deadly Dutch Elm
Disease which has effectively devastated native elm
trees throughout much of North America, England and
Europe. Prince Edward Island is one of the few places
anywhere that still has magnificent specimens of this tree left. Have you
ever appreciated the especially fine ones near the corners of Brighton and
North River Roads, of Grafton and Rochford Streets, or in the four down-
town 'squares' in Charlottetown?
The Camperdown Elm is a cultivated form of the Scotch or Wych Elm,
a tree native to Europe and Western Asia. Actually, it is a grafted tree
with the gnarled and twisted upper portion artificially grafted on to the
rootstock of a normal elm. The apparent purpose of this is to give ita
strong support and height, where its unique branching habit can be seen to
best advantage. The leaves are especially susceptible to the elm leaf
beetle which skeletonizes them, making the tree unsightly until it grows
new leaves. Unfortunately, the only way to eliminate this pest is with
chemical sprays in the spring as the leaves open.
The National Arboretum in Ottawa believes that their Camperdown Elm
is the largest in the country (6m high and 9 m wide in 1980) and one of
the most ornamental in their collection!. Anyone visiting our nation's ca-
pital this year may want to check this out. After all, the National Arbore-
tum is one of the best collections of trees and shrubs in Canada, and open
to the public. Who knows, maybe we have a Camperdown Elm on P.E.I. that is
even larger?
lBuckley, A.R. 1980. Trees and Shrubs of the National Arboretum. Re-
search Branch, Agriculture Canada, Publication 1697. Ottawa. 237 p.
REKKKKKKKKKKRKKRKKRKKREK
How's this for taking the bull by the horns? Some New Brunswick members
attending the Atlantic Environmental Network meeting are working on a pro-
posal for an Eco-Lotto. It would support conservation groups of all aspects,
heritage projects, alternative or right livelihood business, sustainable ag-
riculture, alternative forestry, pollution control and research, scientific
enquiries, anti-nuclear lobbyists, natural rights, Gaia projects in film,
radio or TV. In short, funding for the transition to a sustainable world.
Atlantic Lotto makes profits of between $25 and $45 million and with
only a fraction of this funding all existing groups could be adequately
Supported and could afford to hire first-class support staff, scientific or
otherwise. At least we could hope for more money to projects and a lower
overhead than Atlantic Lotto.
BY GEOFF HOGAN
A friend of mine asked me a question recently regarding Camperdown
Elms. These are among the most unique ornamental trees that we have on the
Island - and some of the oldest. Camperdown Elm, otherwise known as Ulmus
glabra 'Camperdownii', are those strangely sculptured, pendulus trees seen
mostly in the larger urban centers on the Island. Some people refer to
them as umbrella trees, and no doubt other desciptive names as well. Char-
lottetown has some fine old specimens and I remember seeing them somewhere
ina rural ‘partwof ‘the Island:
Most of the Camperdown Elms on the Island were plant-
ed earlier in this century. Unfortunately, they will
be the last: plantved™here; for’ 10 is:now illegal to
import them, or any other species of elm for that
matter. All elms may transport the deadly Dutch Elm
Disease which has effectively devastated native elm
trees throughout much of North America, England and
Europe. Prince Edward Island is one of the few places
anywhere that still has magnificent specimens of this tree left. Have you
ever appreciated the especially fine ones near the corners of Brighton and
North River Roads, of Grafton and Rochford Streets, or in the four down-
town 'squares' in Charlottetown?
The Camperdown Elm is a cultivated form of the Scotch or Wych Elm,
a tree native to Europe and Western Asia. Actually, it is a grafted tree
with the gnarled and twisted upper portion artificially grafted on to the
rootstock of a normal elm. The apparent purpose of this is to give ita
strong support and height, where its unique branching habit can be seen to
best advantage. The leaves are especially susceptible to the elm leaf
beetle which skeletonizes them, making the tree unsightly until it grows
new leaves. Unfortunately, the only way to eliminate this pest is with
chemical sprays in the spring as the leaves open.
The National Arboretum in Ottawa believes that their Camperdown Elm
is the largest in the country (6m high and 9 m wide in 1980) and one of
the most ornamental in their collection!. Anyone visiting our nation's ca-
pital this year may want to check this out. After all, the National Arbore-
tum is one of the best collections of trees and shrubs in Canada, and open
to the public. Who knows, maybe we have a Camperdown Elm on P.E.I. that is
even larger?
lBuckley, A.R. 1980. Trees and Shrubs of the National Arboretum. Re-
search Branch, Agriculture Canada, Publication 1697. Ottawa. 237 p.
REKKKKKKKKKKRKKRKKRKKREK
How's this for taking the bull by the horns? Some New Brunswick members
attending the Atlantic Environmental Network meeting are working on a pro-
posal for an Eco-Lotto. It would support conservation groups of all aspects,
heritage projects, alternative or right livelihood business, sustainable ag-
riculture, alternative forestry, pollution control and research, scientific
enquiries, anti-nuclear lobbyists, natural rights, Gaia projects in film,
radio or TV. In short, funding for the transition to a sustainable world.
Atlantic Lotto makes profits of between $25 and $45 million and with
only a fraction of this funding all existing groups could be adequately
Supported and could afford to hire first-class support staff, scientific or
otherwise. At least we could hope for more money to projects and a lower
overhead than Atlantic Lotto.