TOWN PLANTING 



on the one side and Nixey's Black Lead Works 

 on the other it's a wonder there's a living 

 plant left!" Here the common Fig and Black 

 Poplar seemed better able to withstand the 

 atmospheric conditions than either the Lon- 

 don Plane or Acacia. With the largely in- 

 creased use of coal gas for cooking purposes, 

 improved grates, and the better combustion 

 of fuel, the atmosphere of certain districts of 

 London has, however, become much less 

 smoky than was the case a few years ago, 

 and in consequence vegetation generally suc- 

 ceeds better. This is especially the case in 

 some of the low-lying districts adjoining the 

 Thames where the "slot" system of providing 

 gas for cooking purposes has caused a great 

 decrease in the consumption of coke and coal, 

 with a corresponding reduction of the attend- 

 ing evils of smoke and soot. In one of the 

 poorest parishes many of the inhabitants have 

 taken advantage of the facilities offered by 

 the gas company in the matter of cooking by 

 means of gas provided by the "slot" system, 

 which, in comparison with coal, has been 



