TREES IN PRIVATE GARDENS 181 



Tavistock Place. The grounds now in occupation 

 of the Passmore Edwards Institute contain some 

 interesting trees. Here is a Mulberry that was 

 planted by Charles Dickens when he lived in IQA 

 Tavistock Place, the house at present being the offices 

 of the Theosophical Society. This interesting tree 

 is now 32 feet high, the branch spread being 

 27 feet. The stem girths 2 feet 7 inches at a yard 

 from the ground, and is of irregular thickness, the 

 girth at 6 feet, owing to stem protuberances, being 

 greater than that recorded a trait common to the 

 Mulberry. Several years ago this tree was partially 

 uprooted, but it was again placed in as erect a position 

 as possible and supported by a stout prop. On the 

 opposite side of these grounds, which were formed by 

 throwing several gardens, including that attached to 

 Dickens 's house, into one, is a comparatively large 

 Catalpa, the branches of which cover a diameter of 

 36 feet, the leaning stem girthing 4 feet 8 inches at a 

 yard up. This tree is also propped, owing to three 

 heavy branches having been sent out from the main 

 trunk at a height of 6 feet from the ground. A big 

 Weeping Ash and several majestic Plane trees also 

 ornament these grounds. 



The Old Nursery at Whitechapel. That there was 

 a nursery garden in Whitechapel as early as the 

 eighteenth century we know from a sale catalogue with 

 the following title-page : ' Catalogue of a Compleat 

 Collection of Plants, Shrubs, and Fruit Trees ; Con- 

 sisting chiefly of valuable Exotics, beautiful Flowers, 

 and a large number of Pines in full Fruit and succes- 

 sion ; also Garden Chairs, Frames and Utensils, of 

 Mr. William Bennett ; Cornfactor and Biscuit Baker, 

 Deceas'd ; which (by Order of the Executrix) will 



