WESTERN PLANE 365 



PLANE TREES. 



Platinus orientalis = The Eastern Plane Tree. 

 Platinus occidentalis = The Western Plane Tree. 



The Eastern Plane is little grown in this country ; 

 though a variety of it, the London Plane = P. orientalis 

 acerifolia, is very common, and may be treated in the same 

 way as the Western Plane. 



The Western Plane : 



As to Seed. One pound of seed contains about 93,000 

 seeds. 



When grown from seed, it is always preferable to use 

 foreign seed. It is, however, very easily grown from cuttings 

 or " slips," and may also be propagated by layers. 



The Timber is fairly hard, yellowish-white in colour, 

 handsome, and ornamental ; the best of it is often cut into 

 veneers. There is little on the market in this country, but 

 there is every reason to anticipate a ready sale at remunera- 

 tive prices if any constant supply were available. 



Soil and Situation. A deep, rather moist, loamy soil is 

 necessary ; but the tree also grows, when once established, on 

 rather stiff clay soils, if well drained. 



Dry soils, or very stiff clays, or soils containing an excess 

 of lime, are quite unsuited to it. 



It requires rather a sheltered locality, and is tender as 

 to spring and autumn frosts. Owing to the habit it has 

 of shedding its bark, it is admirably suited for planting in 

 or near towns, or wherever the atmosphere is smoky or 

 impure. 



Cultivation, etc. The tree is light-demanding, and the 

 foliage usually not quite so dense as that of Sycamore. It is 

 a fairly quick-growing tree, and should prove profitable to 

 plant, if the timber could be sold for is. 6d. a cubic foot. 

 Owing to its demands for shelter, it may be grown as 

 standards over coppice, though as an ideal standard its 

 foliage is much too dense; but, considering the usual low 

 price for coppice, this is a minor consideration. 



