4 io MY GARDEN. 



There are many varieties of Elm, but the one cultivated about 

 Wallington is chiefly, if not entirely, the true English elm (fig. 933). 

 At some former period the elm appears to have been the favourite 

 tree. It is not much planted at the present time round London, as 

 of late years it has extensively died, and in our London parks has 

 been replaced by the plane-tree. The Weeping Elm, a variety of 

 the Scotch Elm (Ulmus montana), has large leaves and horizontal 

 branches, drooping at their tips, well adapted to shade a seat, for 

 which purpose I have one planted near the entrance to my fernery. 

 The effect which a large Elm has upon the landscape is well seen 

 in the moonlight view (plate 21), where an old tree in Beddington 

 Park is conspicuous. 



FIG. 933 Elm. FIG. 934. Black Italian Poplar. 



Next to the elm, the Black Italian Poplar (Populus monilifera, 

 fig. 934) takes a prominent place. It grows perhaps the most rapidly 

 of all trees, and is a desirable one to shut out unsightly objects. Very 

 tall trees of this species grow on the south side of the river, and 

 these now overshadow the south-west part of my garden. The Black 

 Italian Poplar tree is not a favourite of mine, as the branches are 

 long and straggling ; nevertheless, for the special object of rapidly 

 covering buildings, it has no equal, although it is late before it expands 

 its leaves in spring. 



A Lombardy poplar or two (Populus fastigata) agreeably varies 

 a landscape. Its branches are upright, and it attains great height 



