184 LONDON TREES 



period in particular, a prominent tree on almost every 

 part of the Heath, where it succeeds admirably and 

 produces its conspicuous fruit in abundance. Some 

 of the largest stems of the Mountain Ash girth 4 feet 

 2 inches at a yard from the ground, and run up to 

 40 feet in height. Constable's Scotch Firs are still to 

 be seen, though fully one-half of the three dozen 

 trees are either dead or dying and sadly afflicted by 

 attacks of the giant Sirex or wood wasp. The largest 

 measures 9 feet 10 inches at a yard from the ground, 

 another being 6 feet 10 inches, while others of 5 feet 

 are not uncommon. They rise to a height of 65 feet, 

 and are branchless for three parts of their height. 

 Several clumps of young trees of the same kind 

 have been planted and protected by fencing, but 

 it is unlikely that these will attain to as goodly 

 proportions as their predecessors. There are some 

 fine old Beech trees in different parts of the Heath, 

 one of which girths 13 \ feet at a yard up ; another 

 is 9 feet in diameter of its curiously buttressed stem. 

 The fenced-in Beech tree on the high grounds above 

 the Viaduct has died a pity, as it was probably the 

 largest of its kind on the Heath. Though carefully 

 protected and holes and diseased portions filled in and 

 otherwise attended, this giant Beech has succumbed to 

 climatic conditions aided by fungus and insect attacks. 

 The Beech Coccus is, unfortunately, rife all over the 

 Heath. Willows of all kinds, but especially the White 

 or Huntingdon and Weeping, thrive well on the 

 dampish dips, some of the specimens we noticed 

 having a wide spread of the healthiest leafage. There 

 is a fine clump of Willows in the dell near the 

 White Stone Pond and by the Viaduct. At Keats' 

 House, Keats' Grove, is growing the Mulberry 



