TREES AND SHRUBS FOR PLANTING IN TOWNS. 127 
far done without trees in its streets, not only are modern streets 
compulsory wide, but the enormous increase in metropolitan build- 
ings renders every sanitary question one of importance ; and the 
chemical properties of trees, as shown by experiment, gives them 
an important standing on that ground, irrespective of ornament or 
the pleasure they produce. But that which is important in such 
localities is more imperatively demanded in poorer districts on the 
score of health, as during the last year alone 21,000 new houses 
were erected in London, producing 400 streets, with 71 miles and 
468 yards of promenade.” 
TREES. 
The Oriental or Common London Plane (Platanus orientalis 
acertfolia).—This variety of the Oriental plane stands first in the 
category of select town trees. Not only does it grow vigorously in 
towns, but it is peculiarly well adapted for withstanding the smoke 
and other impurities of their atmosphere. Repeated experiments 
have clearly proved that in London this tree flourishes better than 
any other, and a visit to the Thames Embankment, and several other 
of the urban districts, will substantiate the statement ; while the 
fine old tree which still exists at Cheapside, and the equally 
beautiful specimen, which has hardly room for perfect development, 
in the Court of Stationers’ Hall, Ludgate Hill, afford other examples 
of how well suited this handsome tree is for doing battle with the 
smoke and impurities of the great metropolis. As a diversity of 
opinion has existed about which variety of plane it is that grows 
with such vigour in and around London, it may be stated that, on 
a careful examination of a large number of specimens, the variety 
P. 0. acerifolia was found not only more commonly distributed, 
but likewise better suited for town planting than the typical P. 
orientalis. This valuable variety is readily distinguished from the 
normal plant by the less deeply divided leaves; and from the 
American plane (P. occidentalis), with which it is not infrequently 
confounded, by the many fruit “ balls” which are attached to each 
peduncle, the fertile catkins of P. occidentalis being for the greater 
part produced singly. 
But not only for its value as a town tree is the Oriental plane 
much sought after ; for the giant proportions to which it attains, 
coupled with the handsome, finely cut leaves and easy habit of 
growth, renders it one of our most desirable ornamental trees. 
Then it is of the easiest culture, succeeding extremely well in soils 
