PARKS 243 



Passing the exit gate opposite Keble Road, we observe 

 on the right a double Horse-chestnut, 7 ft., and a Cladrastis, 

 and on the left a large variety of Thorns, which are now 

 being somewhat interfered with in growth by the more robust- 

 growing Lime-trees situated alongside. On the right-hand 

 side of this path there are Cytisus quercifolia^ Tilia alba^ 

 6 ft. 2 in., and two specimens of the American Paper Birch, 

 Betula papyrifera, i ft. 9 in., a N. American species, whose 

 bark, of a very silvery character, can be used for writing- 

 tablets, and which in N. America has been employed by 

 the Indians in the making of canoes. There is also growing 

 along this path a specimen of Sophora japonica, 4 ft. 1 1 in., 

 a leguminous tree indigenous in Japan, which in this country 

 grows well. The fine example in the Botanic Garden has 

 already been mentioned on p. 39. 



MESOPOTAMIA 



The older trees in Mesopotamia are for the most part 

 pollarded Willows, which, not having been cut for a great 

 number of years, have grown great crowns of boughs stretching 

 out in winter like the arms of some gigantic cuttle-fish which 



Winnow with giant arms the slumbering green ; 

 but in summer they form an avenue of Willow-trees of 

 rare character and beauty. The University owes this fine 

 feature largely to the taste and persistence of Mr. Raper of 

 Trinity, who on one occasion, the Curators of the Parks being 

 equally divided for and against pollarding, saved the boughs 

 by inducing the then Vice-Chancellor to examine the Willows 

 himself before giving his casting vote. The Vice-Chancellor 

 saw that the " branches of the Willows had for the most part 

 a separate tap-root running down deep where there is plenty 

 of moisture, which a Willow loves, and so holding the tree 

 up " and voted against the pollarding. Few people in Oxford 

 have thought more about this question than Mr. Raper, and 

 therefore it is worth while to put his opinion on record, 



