PARK TREES 147 



and beauty in this high-lying park, which to a great 

 extent is free from the impure atmosphere to which 

 many of the metropolitan gardens and grounds are 

 subjected. The varieties of Acer Negundo thrive here 

 amazingly, and add quite a touch of colour to the 

 more sombre-tinted foliage of trees and shrubs. The 

 silver-leaved variety is particularly free and attractive. 

 There are quite a number of ancient Mulberry trees, 

 one of the largest being 40 feet in height, with a stem 

 girthing 6 feet 7 inches at a yard from the ground. 

 Of the Catalpas, both green and golden, there are 

 good specimens, while Paulownia imperialis looks 

 extremely happy and flowers freely. The Straw- 

 berry Tree is well represented by a tree 30 feet in 

 height, with a branch spread of 21 feet, the largest 

 stem being fully a foot in diameter. Two old Cedar 

 of Lebanon trees have seen their best and are fast 

 decaying, and of other coniferous species the Eastern 

 Thuya thrives well and has attained to unusual dimen- 

 sions. The Walnut is represented by several large, 

 healthy trees, and a big silvery-leaved Huntingdon 

 Willow is a conspicuous feature of the grounds. By 

 far the largest of London's Turkey Oaks is growing 

 here, the well-formed stem of which girths 12 feet 

 3 inches at a yard from the ground, while the branch 

 spread extends to 100 feet in diameter. It is a noble 

 specimen and well preserved. The Evergreen Oak 

 also thrives well, and several Birch trees are amongst 

 the finest in London. Some young trees of the 

 Purple-leaved Sycamore are particularly handsome, 

 and the Copper-leaved Beech stands prominently out. 

 The Common Elm is of unusual size, and there are good 

 avenues of the Horse Chestnut, which tree appears to 

 thrive well on the stiff soil of which the grounds are 



