TOWN PLANTING. 



can be little doubt that spring is preferable, for the good 

 reason that, as they start into growth at once, they are not 

 so likely to suffer from smoke and other deleterious 

 affections as if they remained during the winter in an 

 inactive condition. 



Staking the trees, so as to prevent rocking by the wind, 

 and consequent damage to the roots, should be set about 

 immediately planting is finished. These simple matters 

 connected with the preparation of the ground, planting, and 

 staking are so important in town planting that they should 

 never be lost sight of, for, while they add but little to the 

 cost, the advantage gained is very great. 



Trees. 



The Oriental or Common London Plane (Platanus 

 orientalis acerifolia") This variety of the oriental plane 

 stands first in the category of select town trees. Not only 

 does it grow vigorously in towns, but it is peculiarly well 

 adapted for withstanding the smoke and other impurities of 

 their atmosphere. Repeated experiments have clearly 

 proved that in London this tree flourishes better than any 

 other, and a visit to the Thames Embankment and several 

 other of the urban districts will substantiate the statement ; 

 while the fine old tree which still exists in Cheapside, and the 

 equally beautiful specimen which has hardly room for perfect 

 development in the Court of Stationers' Hall, Ludgate Hill, 

 afford other examples of how well suited this handsome tree 

 is for doing battle with the smoke and impurities of the great 

 metropolis. As a diversity of opinion 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 specimens, the variety 

 P. O. acerifolia was found not only more commonly distri- 

 buted, but, likewise, better suited for town planting than 

 the typical P. orientalis. 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 not infrequently confounded, by the many 



fruit " balls " which are attached to each peduncle, the fertile 



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