78 LONDON TREES 



There are two nice specimens of the Ginkgo in 

 the beautifully kept grounds of the Chelsea Physic 

 Garden, and others in St. Paul's Churchyard and at 

 Fulham ; while the example that has for years sur- 

 vived in a cramped position by the Commercial Road 

 in the East End, where foul air and dust are the 

 order of the day, points out how well adapted this 

 tree is for doing battle with the impure atmosphere of 

 even the worst parts of the Metropolis. 



Another Maidenhair Tree of goodly proportions 

 may be seen in Waterlow Park, near the refreshment 

 kiosk. It is 50 feet in height, the trunk girthing 

 3 feet 9 inches at a yard up, the branch spread, which 

 is usually confined in young trees, being about 18 

 feet. 



The ample, delicate green leaves, cut up like those 

 of a Maidenhair fern, even late in the season betray 

 but little evidence of the fierce struggle that must 

 constantly go on between vegetation and the usual 

 impurities of a town atmosphere. That the thick, 

 leathery leaves and strong constitution of this tree 

 play an important part in keeping it healthy under 

 such conditions will be admitted. 



It delights to grow in free, loamy soil and an 

 open situation, but is extremely slow of develop- 

 ment, and twenty-year-old specimens rarely exceed 

 10 or 12 feet in height. Coniferous trees as a whole 

 fare badly in the smoke and dust of the London 

 garden, but this is one of the exceptions to the 

 rule. 



