1 8 LONDON TREES 



recommend it to the planter are its perfect health 

 and freshness under the most trying conditions of 

 both soil and climate, as also immunity from disease 

 and insect attacks. The timber of home-grown trees 

 resembles that of the Ash, but, owing to more rapid 

 growth, the annual rings are much wider apart. It 

 is hard, heavy, and takes a smooth, glossy polish. For 

 fencing posts it has been used with good results, while 

 for tree-nails it has, perhaps, no equal. Additional 

 interest is owing to the leaves of the Ailanthus being 

 the food of the silk-producing insect both on the 

 Continent and in Algeria. An experiment was made 

 to introduce the Ailanthus silkworm, which feeds on 

 the leaves of this tree, into England, but the scheme 

 had no better success than that of James I with the 

 Mulberry. 



When the seeds are obtainable the Ailanthus may 

 readily be propagated in that way, but the quickest 

 and usual method is from root-cuttings. 



M0m ''/:,: Alder .; l^^^/ -^ 



(Alnus glutinosa) 



THOUGH not generally planted in London as 

 an ornamental tree, yet single specimens of the 

 Alder may be found of fair proportions in most 

 of the public parks and gardens. It is, however, a 

 distinctly valuable tree, whether viewed from a purely 

 landscape effect or from a commercial standpoint. 



It delights in moist situations, and for that reason 

 is most commonly found growing by the lake or pond 

 side and in large numbers along the banks of the 

 Thames, particularly in the upper reaches. In places 



