72 LONDON TREES 



Laburnum 



BOTH the English (L. vulgare) and Scotch (L. 

 alpinwri) Laburnums thrive well in every part 

 of London, some of the largest trees being in the 

 most smoky and dusty parts of the City and East End. 

 Almost every square and garden contains its specimens 

 of the Laburnum, and as many of these are of large 

 size and considerable age the inference to be drawn 

 is that for town planting they are most valuable trees. 

 From 25 to 30 feet is the normal height to which 

 the Laburnum attains even when planted under very 

 favourable conditions in the country, and stems more 

 than a foot in diameter are the exception, yet specimens 

 of greater stature and with larger stems are to be found 

 in not a few of the London gardens. One of the 

 best we have come across is in Russell Square, the 

 stem of which is fully 18 inches in diameter, while 

 other equally fine trees are growing in Carlton Gardens 

 and in the central parks. Many specimens in Bat- 

 tersea Park are fully 40 feet in height, while at Golder's 

 Hill unusually fine trees are to be seen. As orna- 

 mental trees of small growth both species must rank 

 high, for the long pendulous racemes of bright yellow 

 flowers are, when at their best in May, surpassed 

 in neither quantity nor beauty by those of any other 

 hardy tree. The Scotch Laburnum is of larger growth 

 than the English, but flowers later in the season, and 

 the individual racemes though longer are usually less 

 plentifully produced. It is well to bear in mind that 

 in the production of flowers some forms are far more 

 prolific than others, and in raising seedlings it is 

 advisable to do so from the most ornamental trees. 



