OC ee 
31 
Marca 9TH. 
ORDINARY MEETING.—MR. F. MERRIFIELD, THE 
PRESIDENT, ON “TREE PLANTING IN BRIGHTON.” 
—SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS, 
Mr. Merrifield observed that there was very little variety in the trees 
found in Brightun. They were nearly all of one sort, and that sort by no 
means always well selected. The elm tree, and generally a very scrubby 
form of it, was so exclusively planted as almost to lead to the conclusion 
that a desire to save the poor rates, having regard to the uses to which 
elm-boards were devoted, had been the prevailing motive with the authori- 
ties. The elm was by no means the best of town trees. This was conceded 
by Shirley Hibberd, by Mr Robinson in his recent work on the parks and 
gardens of Paris, and by most other authorities. Accordingly, it was 
found that in London and elsewhere it was being extensively supplanted 
by other trees, such as the plane and the ailanthus, Still, it might be 
said that the elm tree answered in Brighton. That was a very good reason 
for keeping to the elm where no other tree could be got to succeed ; but 
it was no reason for not sometimes planting other trees that would 
succeed in place of the elm. 
The choice of trees suitable for Brighton was necessarily very 
much restricted. The exposure to the wind of most localities, and the 
sea air pervading the whole district, excluded many species, while the 
chalky sub-soil and thinness of the stratum of vegetable mould in 
nearly all parts of the town excluded many more. Nearly all the firs 
and pines were thus excluded. 
The trees he desired to commend to the notice of the authorities 
were the following :— 
1. Better varieties of elms. Few trees varied so much in beauty of 
appearance as the elm. There were several species and varieties of elm 
well-known to endure without injury the sea breezes. 
The Cornish elm might be mentioned as one of these, and by con- 
sulting experienced arboriculturists, several varieties of elm, greatly 
superior in appearance to any of those we now had growing in our 
streets, might be safely planted. 
In selecting these new varieties, it might be hoped that some 
of the larger leaved ones would be tried. Some of these would do well, 
