Aliens and Adventwes 101 



By the Romans, if not before, were introduced the Sweet Chestnut 

 (Castanea saliva) for nuts and clean-growing timber which splits even better 

 than Oak, Ulmus campcstris, probably from Spain, for timber, Sycamore, 

 Lime and Poplar (P. nigra and possibly P. canescens, as soft timber, light and 

 not splintering, hence used for carts) ; also larger Willows (Salix alba, and 

 probably S. fragilis, the Withy) as adapted for growing by the water-side, 

 as also Osiers and associated forms for basket-work. Other trees of the 

 Mediterranean region, and often Sycamore, Lime, Chestnut, will die out if not 

 planted again; but Willows and Poplars are readily propagated by the most 

 ignorant without any knowledge of seed-regeneration by putting in stakes (sets). 

 Common Elm and Populus canescens are practically indestructible owing to 

 active production of suckers. 1 



Before the printed records of the Sixteenth Century (1548) plants of 

 S. Europe were grown as trees, food-plants and flowers, as the Cypress 

 (Cupressus sempervirens), Pinus Pinea, Plane. Pink Almond and Cherry, Spruce, 

 and Jasminum officinale. Myrtle and Daphne. 



Sixteenth-century records include Laurustinus (Viburnum Tinus), Lilac 

 (Syringa vulgaris), Laburnum, Bay-Tree (Laurus nobilis\ Colutea arbor escens 

 (Bladder Senna), Walnut {Juglans regid), Quince (Cydonia vulgaris\ Evergreen 

 Oak (Qttercus Ilex)] and Yucca gloriosa from America with Thuya occidentals 

 (Arbor Vitae), also Pinus Pinaster. 



The Seventeenth Century adds Cedrus Libam (1683) ; European trees as 

 Abies pectinata (1603), Larix (1629), Acer platanoides (1683); North American 

 trees, Liriodendron tulipifera (1663), Robinia Pseudacacia (1640), with Rhus 

 typhina (Sumach, 1629) and Ampelopsis hederacea (Virginian Creeper, 1629): 

 Evergreens from the Mediterranean, Prunus Laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel, 

 1629), Prunus lusitanica (Portugal Laurel, 1648), with garden shrubs, Lycium 

 barbarum (1696) and Crataegus Pyracantha (1629). Most striking of all the 

 Horsechestnut (Aesculus Hippocastanum, from the Caucasus, 1629). 



The Eighteenth Century does little more than continue the same series 

 of decorative trees and shrubs for garden purposes, with a few of economic 

 significance : 



Populus pyramidalis (1758), Populus serotina (1787), Pinus Strobus 

 (Weymouth Pine) 1705, Araucaria imbricata (Monkey Puzzle) 1796, Ailanthus 

 glandulosa (1751), Magnolia grandiflora (1737), M. conspicua (1789), Buddleia 

 globosa (1774), Aucuba japonica (17835, 0*1876). Chimonanthus fragrans 

 (1776), Sophor a japonica (1753), Tsuga canadensis (1736). 



The Nineteenth Century, especially in the latter half, has seen the great 

 influx of garden-shrubs of decorative value, as small gardens of the middle-class 

 population become enormously more important and numerous than the large 

 estates of the eighteenth century. While the great majority of older introduc- 

 tions are so well-established as to receive popular names, this does not apply to 

 the more recent additions. The century also marks a great increase in 

 Conifers, as evergreen trees and shrubs, more particularly from Japan and the 

 Pacific Slope of N. America, many of which are hoped to improve forest- 

 cultivation. But with the addition of so many new forms, a certain amount 

 of selection is unavoidable ; older favourites are voted ' old-fashioned ', and tend 

 to be neglected for novelties which are not always an improvement. Among the 

 more familiar shrubs of suburban gardens, cf. : 



Ampelopsis Veitchii (Hort.), Japan, 1868. 

 Berberis Aquifolium, N. America, 1823. 

 Berberis Darwinii, S. Chili, 1849. 

 Buddleia variabilis (vars.) China, 1896. 

 Ceanothus azureus, Mexico, 1818. 



1 Populus cantscens will send up suckers 50 yds. Jrom the parent tree ; its seedling history 

 appears unknown. Populus nigra stands pollarding, but is now an uncommon tree, having been 

 replaced in ecological station by the mutant Lombardy Poplar (P. fastigiata), and the hybrid 

 P. serotina (Black Italian Poplar), the finest tree locally. (Elwes and Henry, 1913, p. 1803.). 



