570 THE ORIENTAL PLANE TREE. [Jan' 



at the base, and which conveys to the mind no idea of the size 

 of the tree. In Persia this stately tree, called there the Chinar, 

 is frequently met with in avenues, or in company with the Lombardy 

 poplar, affording shade and ornament to the dwellings of the peasants, 

 or along the margins of the streams and watercourses. 



"Planes may readily be found in England 14 feet in circum- 

 ference, measured fairly at 5 feet from the ground, and reaching 

 a height of 80 feet. They require suitable soils and situations for 

 their greatest growth. They are not perhaps fastidious, but there 

 are two or three essentials to their most successful cultivation, which 

 must not be overlooked in planting them. 



" Unlike the sycamore, an Acer which was dubbed Fscndo-Pla fames, 

 and which runs over the hills of Europe, a native of Italy, Switzer- 

 land, and Germany, and doubtfully indigenous in Britain, a hardy 

 tree, with stout twigs bearing storms well, the plane loves shelter. 

 It is a tree for vales rather than hill-tops, and requires proper soils, 

 while the sycamore can accommodate itself to a variety of soils as 

 well as sites. The plane cannot endure a clay soil, and the shade 

 of other trees proves obnoxious to it. It also requires good land, 

 light rather than heavy, with natural drainage, but at the same time 

 moisture at the roots, and a deep, free soil. In . proper situations, 

 in short — and, it may be added, wherever the lime grows best, as 

 single specimens or as groups upon tlie lawn, where it spreads itself 

 wide and may be distinguished from the maples at a glance by the 

 scaling off of the bark and the round rough fruit — the plane may 

 be often observed. I noticed some very noble specimens last 

 summer at Hursley in the shrubbery among other trees, all favourites 

 of the late Sir William Heathcote. The plane is a common 

 ornament of English parks and gardens, as any observer of trees 

 may know if he consults his memory (having travelled mucli), or 

 Mr. Loudon, if he has read that delightl'ul writer. 



" An enthusiastic admirer of the plane has said of it, that there 

 is a mild majesty in its aspect and a grace in its form and in the 

 disposal of its foliage, which admits liglit playing amongst its leaves 

 and creates shade beneath the canopy of its branches, and renders 

 it one of the best models of elegance which the vegetable kingdom 

 can exhibit. Owing to its great beauty, therefore, as well as its 

 tolerance of smoke, the plane is obviously the best tree for the 

 embellishment of great cities, the best for populous and conspicuous 

 places for the improvement of public taste." — H. E. in Gardeners 

 Chronicle. 



