144 



The Country Gentleman s Magazine 



into leaf so soon as the Lime, but when it 

 does so its leaves are large and worth look- 

 ing at, and it forms a fine umbrageous shade 

 dying off, too, in the autumn in various tints 

 of gold. It is more enduring than any of its 

 compeers, in my opinion." Both these par- 

 ties have, no doubt, stated the truth, but let 

 us see, or rather analyze, \\\Q pros and cons oi 

 both. 



THE LI-AIE TREE. 



The Lime tree comes early into leaf, and 

 that is one point of importance after the long 

 rest of winter. Its leaves individually are 

 not so large as that of the Plane, but col- 

 lectively they form a grand group, and the 

 tints are such as to be more than captivating. 

 Moreover, the leaves are denser set together 

 than those of the species to which it is com- 

 pared; and the fragrance which a line of 

 them gives off is another point entitling their 

 claims to be heard. Again, they can be 

 pruned like a AVillow, and like a Willow 

 grow on again, as if nothing had happened 

 to injure their system. They have a good 

 appearance from early May until late August. 

 In very dry jeasons the leaves become sickly- 

 like, even in July, but that is more the excep- 

 tion than the rule. In our moist northern 

 cities and towns this is a tree long known 

 and highly favoured, and whatevei prejudice 

 we may have against it as an avenue tree, or 

 an ornamental tree for individualizing, say 

 upon a lawn, we have not the slightest hesi- 

 tation in recommending it as one of the first 

 and best for tenements, and for such villas 

 with limited frontage where the owner or 

 occupier is compelled to pollard them. The 

 tree has three distinct claims upon city 

 planters. It comes into leaf early 3 its habit 

 is most desirable for screen purposes, and it 

 bears pruning either as a young or a grown- 

 up tree better than the Plane. AVere we 

 talking of avenues, such, for example, as that 

 of the Thames Embankment, which is in- 

 tended to be as avenue-like as possible, our 

 advice as to a suitable tree would be different ; 

 but we are now talking of tenements and 

 villas, and what is most suitable for them, 

 and we have no hesitation in iterating that 



the Lime is still the best tree for that pur- 

 pose. It has been condemned, but it has 

 been condemned without consideration, or 

 rather the parties that have condemned it 

 have not been explicit enough in their 

 declaration as to the luhere it has proved 

 unsuitable. 



THE OCCIDENTAL PLANE. 



Now as to the Plane, the modern ruling, 

 we believe, is in a great measure right. Pre- 

 eminently it is the best tree from an endurance 

 point of view. It is the best tree we said, 

 only, however, as a i'ree, not to be cut and 

 hacked at and trimmed, as we see Limes for 

 screen purposes. Mr Mackenzie decided 

 quite rightly when he recommended the Metro- 

 politan Board to plant Planes along the 

 Thames Embankment. We would endorse 

 that recommendation, so that it might in 

 future be taken advantage of by all boards or 

 committees, no matter what city or town 

 they may live in in these islands. It is stately 

 in its growth, its foliage amplifies to consider- 

 able dimensions, and it is not flimsy or silk- 

 paper like, but coriaceous and of good appear- 

 ance, as it moves before the will of the 

 breeze. jNIoreover, it grows upwards and 

 laterally, to assume a gpodly habit ; and the 

 smoke, and the dust, and the wind only 

 partially disturb its career physically. 



THE ORIENTAL PLANE. 



We cannot say so much for its twin brother 

 of the East— the Oriental Plane (Platanus 

 ori en talis). It is more tender in constitution, 

 does not take so well to city life, and conse- 

 quently should not be planted as a fellow, 

 either in juxtaposition or alternately Avith 

 the Occidental Plane. No one can but 

 admire its noble appearance, its large pal- 

 matifid leaves, more deeply incised than 

 that of the Western Plane, and its long 

 enduring through the autumn months. These 

 are points of importance to be catered for by 

 all who study arboricultural effect, but when 

 we find that it is uncomfortable in most 

 localities about cities, we are better not to 

 persevere with it, especially to select it for 

 such a prominent position as an avenue tree, 



