i88 LONDON TREES 



both Oak and Elm, are those by Streatham Corner, 

 one near the entrance to Prentis Road, which tradition 

 associates with Dr. Johnson, having a giant hollow 

 stem, the interior of which is 7 feet in diameter. This 

 historic tree, which is reputed to be at least a thousand 

 years old, is carefully preserved by an iron railing, 

 the hollow shell, which only rises to a height of 8 feet, 

 being covered with Ivy. Near by are several other old 

 and weather-beaten Oaks and Elms, which, judging 

 from their present size, must in their hey-day have 

 been noble specimens. Three Oaks in particular that 

 are preserved by wooden fences are of immense size, 

 though only the hollow, Ivy-covered trunks now 

 remain to witness to their one-time greatness. 



But scattered about all over this side of the common 

 are Oaks of unusual size, and still in their prime, the 

 natural undergrowth consisting of tangled masses of 

 Thorn and Bramble. The various clumps of Fastigiate 

 Poplars have a telling effect in the open parts of the 

 common, which is intersected in several directions by 

 avenues of trees, one being composed of healthy 

 young Horse Chestnuts about 30 feet in height. Fine 

 examples of the Weeping Willow are features of the 

 pond sides, where too trees of the Austrian Pine 

 and Birch have a good effect. There are also clumps 

 of Acacia, Lime, Elm, and upright Poplars, each kind 

 being wisely kept together. Surrounded by a fence 

 near one of the ponds are the fossilised remains of a 

 tree trunk (salicified) from the Lower Purbeck bed, 

 Portland, which was removed to its present position 

 by the Balham Antiquarian and Natural History 

 Society. 



But altogether this beautiful common retains its 

 original wild condition, the scattered clumps and 



