16 LONDON TREES 



Lambeth Borough Recreation Grounds and many 

 East End districts, the Ailanthus flourishes in a way 

 that is quite surprising, and remains green and healthy 

 during prolonged heat and drought. 



The long, pinnate, deep-green leaves, like those 

 of the Ash greatly exaggerated, and often 2 feet in 

 length, render the Ailanthus one of the most striking, 

 distinct, and ornamental of trees, while for town plant- 

 ing it has no rival, as dust, foul air, or drought seem to 

 have but little effect upon the handsome foliage, which 

 is retained long after that of many other trees has 

 become scorched by heat and drought. Further, it 

 thrives on the poorest of soil, even amongst that which 

 is largely composed of stones, bricks, and refuse 

 builder's materials, and on the other hand will attain 

 to stately dimensions in the heavy and plastic London 

 clay, having a robust constitution and leathery texture 

 which appear quite indifferent to vicissitudes of soil 

 and climate. 



Some of the largest specimens are in Bloomsbury 

 Square, one of the best being 70 feet high, with a 

 well-rounded bole that girths 6 feet at a yard from the 

 ground. Other fine trees may be seen in Lincoln's 

 Inn Fields and in the grounds of the Temple and in 

 the public gardens at Poplar. 



Growing within a stone's throw of the Royal Mint 

 are half a dozen trees of the Ailanthus which average 

 50 feet in height, with massive stems from 5 to 6 feet 

 in circumference at a yard from the ground. It is 

 well known that the chemical impurities given off 

 at the gold-refining works at the Mint are amongst 

 the most deadly to tree and shrub life of any in the 

 Metropolis. That the Ailanthus is even better suited 

 than the Plane for the most smoky parts of London 



