The Camperdown Elm, is the rarest of biological specimen trees in the New York Park department. It was in danger of dying when this pen and ink drawing was created by William Johnston in 1967. Located in Prospect Park next to the Victorian Boat House, it stands about 13 feet tall. It was in 1640 that the "Earl of Camperdown", in Dundee Scotland, noticed a branch growing on the floor of his elm forest. He grafted it to a scotch elm tree and it took hold producing the first Camperdown Elm. The tree is a mutant and can not self reproduce. Every Camperdown Elm tree in the world is a part of the original that must be grafted to a scotch elm tree to get started. When the graft starts to grow the scotch elm branches are cut off leaving only the Camperdown Elm. The scotch elm is the only root mass that the camperdown will grow on. This magnificent tree depends on human kind to keep it alive as a species. This drawing was created to raise awareness of the need for preservative care and to raise funds to repair and save the tree. With the repair work completed and the protective fence erected around its base, this tree will be there for future generations of park visitors to view and enjoy. This spectacular tree was presented to Prospect Park on Arbor Day in 1860. The Camperdown Elm Tree was a favorite tree of Luther Burbank, California's plant wizard. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these prints will be donated to the "Friends of Prospect Park" organization.

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