best for our islands 79 



there are many Oaks in many forms. So, too, the 

 Beech, a true northern tree in its vigour ; how fine it is 

 in many conditions— on chalky hills and also in the level 

 land, whether in Surrey or on the Lothians. The Ash 

 —one of our best timber trees — is often fine in form in 

 old states. There is a whole string of Elms and their 

 varieties in catalogues, but by far the best is our native 

 Wych or Mountain Elm; a noble tree in beauty and 

 dignity, attaining sometimes a girth of trunk nearly, or 

 quite, 50 feet and a height' of 120 feet. Our native 

 Poplars are often neglected, the Abele and Grey Poplars 

 being stately trees, and the wood more valuable than it 

 used to be. Among Pines, we have none which sur- 

 passes our native Fir in form and colour ; when old, 

 valuable, too, for timber. The Field Maple is a neglected 

 tree, but beautiful trees of it can be seen here and there 

 in woods, as at Mereworth and Brede. The Sycamore 

 Maple is fine in form, as we may see at Knole and other 

 places. It is supposed to be a naturalized rather than 

 a native tree, but over a large area of the coldest parts 

 of Europe no tree surpasses it in vigour and rapidity of 

 increase. It is storm-resisting, thrives near the sea, as 

 in Anglesey, and is altogether one of the best trees for 

 planting. 



Tree Willows. The Tree Willows of Britain have 

 value as timber, but are neglected by planters even of 

 gardens, though none of the variegated rubbish of the 

 nursery gives anything like so good an effect as the 

 White, Red, and Yellow Willows in winter or summer. 

 The Common Lime is not a native of Britain, but two 

 other kinds {Tilia cordata and T. plafyphyllos) belong to 

 our native flora. The Hornbeam is a true native, 

 neglected by planters, though common in some old 



