Gardening for Amateurs 



923 



Platanus acerifolia (London Plane) is 



a large and handsome tree when mature, 

 but its adaptability for growing in large towns 

 in the Midlands and South of England has 

 resulted in its being used as a street tree 

 rather than a park or garden tree, in which 

 position it has little chance of developing 

 satisfactorily. A rather serious accusation 

 has been made against it of late years, for it 

 is said that the fine hairs from fruits in spring 

 float about in the atmosphere and are inhaled 

 by people and animals, so setting up in- 

 flammation of the respiratory organs. The 

 Oriental Plane, P. orientalis, has finer 

 lobed leaves than P. acerifolia. The North 

 American, P. occidentalis, is often confused 

 with the London Plane, whereas it is ex- 

 tremely doubtful where the true P. occiden- 

 talis is grown in this country except as a 

 very small tree, for it is not hardy about 

 London. In Scotland the name of Plane is 

 given to the Sycamore. 



Populus canescens (Grey Poplar) is a 

 decorative tree suitable for damp ground. 



Growing 50 to 60 feet high, it is conspicuous 

 by reason of its grey bark and silvery leaves. 

 The Aspen, Populus tremula, is an ornamental 

 and interesting tree. The blades of the leaves 

 are so delicately poised on their stalks that 

 they are moved by the slightest wind. 

 There is a form with weeping branches which 

 is very ornamental. The Balsam Poplar, 

 P. balsamifera, a native of North America, 

 is also worth growing, as are also trichocarpa, 

 laurifolia, nigra and Eugenei. The Lom- 

 bardy Poplar, P. nigra var. pyramidahs, is 

 worth attention on account of its upright or 

 fastigiate habit, for it makes an effective 

 change from other trees. 



Pterocarya caucasica is a distinct tree, 

 native of the Caucasus. Planted in moist 

 ground or on the margin of a lake it forms 

 a wide-spreading tree with long pinnate 

 leaves. A peculiarity is found in its small 

 winged fruits borne in drooping catkins 1 

 foot or more long. 



Quercus Robur (Oak) is the scientific 

 name applied to all the British Oaks, but 



Weeping Beech. 



