142 LONDON TREES 



which is semi-recumbent, is in a healthy state, the 

 curiously irregular stem being about 2 \ feet in diameter 

 and the branch spread 27 feet. Another rare and 

 interesting tree is Magnolia acuminata, 50 feet high, 

 the stem girthing 4 feet 8 inches and with a branch 

 spread of 12 yards. The Paper Birch (Broussonetia 

 papyri/era) also thrives well, as do the Sea Buck- 

 thorn, Tulip Tree, Bay Tree, and Gleditschia tri- 

 acanthos. 



Probably no finer Lombardy Poplars than those 

 in this park could be seen in the Metropolis, and this 

 may also be said of the Horse Chestnut, Willow, Pyrus, 

 and Thorns. There is an aged Cedar tree ; Evergreen 

 Oak and many coniferous trees do well. 



The site of the park and district of Highgate was 

 in ancient times part of an extensive forest that en- 

 circled the northern side of the Metropolis, much of 

 which has disappeared. Highgate Wood and Bishop's 

 Wood are portions of this forest. 



Springfield Park. Most trees thrive well in the 

 air of Upper Clapton, and this park has the advantage 

 of being originally the private grounds of Springfield 

 House, which will account for the age and size of some 

 of the trees. Of the less common trees there is a 

 goodly specimen of an ancient Mulberry, which with 

 patching and protecting should last a number of 

 years. Most of our finest trees the Elm, Oak, Beech, 

 Birch, and Sycamore thrive on the higher sloping 

 grounds, while a well-grown Purple Beech is quite 

 an ornament to the lower ground. That uncommon 

 London tree, the Arbutus, is well represented, and 

 Hollies, Thorns, and Acacia are all thriving splendidly. 



Ravenscourt Park contains a representative col- 

 lection of trees, many of which are old and past their 



