1883.] 



CHIPS AXD SLIPS. 



155 



ExGLisH Trees ix Aothx. — It has 

 been pleasant of late, says a wriitriin 

 the Fidd, to notice the fine tints of our 

 native trees where anything like a 

 variet}' are planted. The Tulip tree has 

 been superb in its soft gold, even in 

 London. The Elms as good as any in 

 their fine yellow. Some of the dwarf 

 introduced shrubs and trees are admir- 

 able in colour, but usually poor, owing to 

 being seen in very small specimens or 

 numbers, or lost under the shade of a 

 shrubbery. Here and there some one 

 has sense enough to plant such a tree as 

 the Liquidamber, and as a rule the result 

 about the end of October is superb. Our 

 experience of the colour in tree foliage 

 leads us to the conclusion that, if we 

 plant the right kinds, and plant and 

 group them well, as good colour may 

 l>e had in England as in America or 

 anywhere else. Even in London 

 lately the colour has been superb, 

 about Hanipstead, for example. There 

 a Tulip tree in Sir Spencer Wells' 

 place has been a picture of beautiful 

 colour. 



The Boscobel Oak. — It is perhaps 

 not generally known, says a contem- 

 porary, that the present Boscobel Oak 

 was grown from an acorn of the cele- 

 bnitedjtree that afforded the fugitive king 

 shelter after the battle of Worcester. 

 According to 'Boscobel Tracts,' the 

 tr^ was not blown down, but is stated 

 to have fallen ' a sacrifice to the destruc- 

 tive zeal of the loyal daring Charles's 

 brief popularity.' The following ex- 

 tnict referring to the subject is from 

 ' England under the Stuarts,' vol. ii. p. 



451. 1S65 : — • B'>scobel house is still 

 standing : inieei. it is in almost the 

 same sta:e as when visited by Charles. 

 rnfortnrate'ytbe E-\val Oak, the most 

 inieresrirg of these relics, has long since 

 been gathered to its fathers. An off- 

 spring, however, sprung from one of 

 the father acorns, still points oat the 

 memorable spot An iron railing pro- 

 tects it f:OTi harm. May it ever be 

 regarded with reverence by lovers of the 

 past I - 



A Glapstoxb Tuke. — In September 

 last Mr. Hill, a working-man advocate 

 in Lambeth, wrote to 3ifr. Gladstone as 

 follows :— • SI Barlow Street, East 

 Street, W;\lworth, Sept 3, 1SS3. Sir.— 

 I am a working-man chairmaker, and 

 have for the past thirty years had a vote 

 for Lambeth, which I have always 

 given to the Liberal candidate. I am 

 going to ask a very great favour from 

 you, which I do hope you will see your 

 way to gnint I have two sons, and T 

 want you to sell me one or two, accord- 

 ing to the size, of the Oak, Elm, or any 

 other hardewood trees you have cut 

 down yourself. I want to make my 

 sons an armchair and table a-piece with 

 my own hands, so that they can leave 

 them to their children when they are 

 dead. I shall be willing and glad to 

 pay the price charged by your valuer, 

 and also the railway carriage to London. 

 Trusting you will be able to do so, and 

 hoping you will forgive me the liberty 

 I have "taken in writing to you, I re- 

 main vour obedient servant H. T. HilL 

 The Bight Hon. W. E, Gladstoiie.' To 

 this the following reply was received : — 



