100 Practical Forestry 



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 speci- 

 mens, the variety P.O. acerifolia was found not only more 

 commonly distributed, but, likewise, better suited for town 

 planting than the typical P. orienlalis. 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 sometimes con- 

 founded, 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, but the giant proportions to which 

 it attains, coupled with the handsome, finely-cut leaves and 

 easy habit of growth, render it one of our most desirable 

 ornamental trees. Further, it is of the easiest culture, 

 succeeding extremely well in soils of very opposite 'qualities, 

 Taking everything into consideration, we question whether 

 any other of our forest trees is equal in value to the plane 

 for purposes of town planting. 



The Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba). The maiden- 

 hair or ginkgo tree is one of the most valuable that can be 

 planted in the impure atmosphere of a town garden. Few 

 trees can compare with the one in question for withstand- 

 ing the deleterious effects produced on vegetation generally 

 by coming in too close contact with the impurities of our 

 great centres of industry. The ample delicate-green foliage 

 betrays even late in the season, and when about to be cast 

 off little evidence of the fierce struggle that must almost 

 constantly go on between vegetation and the smoke and 

 filth of our towns and cities. That the thick, leathery 

 leaves and strong constitution of the tree play an important 

 part in keeping it free from disease is clearly evident, 

 while the annual renewal of the leaves enables it to cast 

 off the sooty nodules which work such havoc on the tender 

 foliage of most evergreen trees. 



At several places in and around the great metropolis 

 and in places, too, where one is almost stifled with the 



