Elm is very prone to growing a long clean trunk before branching. Particularly when it is coming up through a canopy.
You still have to look for a perfect trunk that is say 7 feet of clear wood with no branches or recently grown over knots and capable of being quartered.
I see many trees with at least one clear side but I'd rather get at least 2 staves from a tree before cutting.
Definitely the number one tree up here for reliably supplying clear wood with a minimum of time looking for it. Even with the blight taking its share. Saw two trees today that were flawless except for being dead and rotten.
On the plus side I found 3-4 more perfect specimens that are healthy.
Formerly the tree attained a typical tropical tree form. A buttressed trunk with a long clean bole and a vase shaped top. Still see plenty of medium sized trees that show promise of reaching those dimensions again.
I should take some pics of those trees.
I will be bending the tips while the wood is semi-green. It seems to be even more pliable then and require less heating.
