TOWN PLANTING 11 



smoke and vapours are most abundant in 

 our towns and cities. I am quite aware that one 

 occasionally sees evergreen shrubs and trees 

 in a fairly thriving condition; but it should 

 be remembered that in the majority of such 

 cases they were planted when conditions were 

 much more favourable than at present. 



It is, perhaps, to be regretted that ever- 

 green shrubs do not succeed better in smoky 

 localities, being planted principally for their 

 refreshing colour in winter; but if our atmo- 

 spheric conditions utterly preclude the use of 

 such, then it is folly to throw away money 

 on useless planting, and the winter aspect of 

 deciduous trees and shrubs is infinitely pre- 

 ferable to that of unhealthy evergreens. The 

 bursting into leaf of the deciduous tree or 

 shrub is not shared to a like extent by ever- 

 greens, which lack that delightful changeful- 

 ness and the interest that is attached to spring 

 growth. 



It is difficult to define accurately the boun- 

 daries of a town or the worst smoke-infested 

 areas, as far as tree and shrub growth is 



