The Princeton Elms pictured here
were planted along this famous Washington road, outside Princeton
University. From my understanding none have died from disease,
but as you can see, some have been hit by cars. Also some have suffered
damage from wind and ice over the years. The Washington Road Allee is a
0.7 mile-long roadway bordered on both sides by 76 elm trees planted in
the mid 1920's, on 50' centers, directly opposite one another. The trees
create a majestic vehicular entrance to Princeton University and is the
most extensive surviving elm-lined roadway in central New Jersey.
Bred for hardiness, they turned
out to be resistant to Dutch elm disease, which hit the United States in
1930 and killed over one million trees nationwide, including the vast
majority of elm tree allees that once characterized the streets and open
roads of many American towns and cities.
I show these injuries to exhibit
the ability of the American Elm to heal themselves. They are the fastest
growing, best tree, I know of.
