158 LONDON TREES 



where pruning had not been resorted to. Mulberry 

 trees are to be found in quantity in this district, where 

 at one time silk spinning was engaged in, the leaves 

 of these trees being used as food for the caterpillars. 

 Figs do uncommonly well here and in the district 

 around. 



York Square, adjoining the above, contains some un- 

 usually large Hollies and Sumach ; while Albert Square, 

 with its Limes and Hollies, Planes and Laburnums, 

 is a cherished spot in this thickly populated district. 



Finsbury Square The trees here are of no particular 

 interest, though the Weeping Elm and Ash and goodly ' 

 specimen of the Cockspur Thorn by the drinking foun- 

 tain are worthy of note. The Sycamore thrives well 

 around the margin, and there are also fair specimens 

 of the Lime, Plane, Poplar, and Ailanthus. 



Princes Square. The church here has been con- 

 verted into a storehouse, and the graveyard is now a 

 place for cleaning and sorting potato sacks. There 

 are some big Poplars and small-leaved Elms of quite 

 a respectable size, while the Thorn hedge with which 

 the garden has been surrounded is now patchy and 

 neglected ; but enough is still left to show that with 

 care this might have been the best Thorn hedge in 

 the East End of London. 



Royal Mint Square can boast of ten small Planes, 

 somewhat weedy, growing amongst heaps of ' burs ' 

 and refuse building material. It is, however, an 

 oasis in this thickly populated district and a boon to 

 the children of the neighbourhood. 



Royal Crescent. This useful open space is sur- 

 rounded by a thick screen of moderate-sized Lime trees. 

 There are several well-grown Planes and healthy 

 Ash trees, as also big Acacias and the Horse Chestnut. 



