PRACTICAL FORE STB Y. 



catkins of P. occiclentalis being, for the greater part, produced 

 singly. 



But not only for its value as a town tree is the oriental 

 plane much sought after, for 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. Then it is of the easiest culture, succeed- 

 ing extremely well in soils of very opposite qualities. Taking 

 everything into consideration, we question much whether 

 any other of our forest trees is of greater, or even equal, 

 value with the plane for town planting. 



The Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba). A prolonged visit 

 to the very worst smoke-infested slums of London has now 

 quite convinced me that the maidenhair, or ginkgo, tree is 

 one of the most valuable that can be planted in the impure 

 atmosphere of a town garden. Few trees, I am fully aware, 

 can compare with the one in question, for withstanding 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 con- 

 stantly 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 fact 

 of the leaves being renewed annually must go a long way 

 towards casting off the sooty nodules which work such havoc 

 on the tender foliage of most evergreen trees. 



At no less than five places in and around the great metro- 

 polis and such places, too, where one is almost stifled with 

 tne fumes from chimneys this tree may be seen almost in 

 as fresh a condition as those in the open country. 



The Ailantus, or Tree of Heaven (Ailantus glandulosa) 

 may be seen in a very flourishing condition in many of the 

 largest centres of industry in Southern England. It has 

 been larely planted in many Continental cities, and has 

 proved itself one of the few trees that is capable of with- 

 standing the impurities of a to^vn atmosphere. 



84 



