WESTERN PLANE. 357 



where the soil is loose, deep, and fertile ;" and he adds, 

 "it is never found upon dry lands of irregular surface.'''' 

 It was first introduced into England about two hundred 

 years ago, and in consequence, it would appear, of its 

 more rapid growth and easy propagation by cuttings, 

 had, in Evelyn's time, become much more common than 

 the Oriental Plane, which it had then nearly supplanted ; 

 and even at present it continues to be planted in pre- 

 ference to the other, though it is evident from the fatal 

 effects produced by the severe spring frost in the month 

 of May 1809, and by the severe winter of 1813 and 1814, 

 that it is in reality of a more delicate constitution, and 

 less able to bear the vicissitudes of our climate, than its 

 oriental congener. In the year and month first named, 

 a severe frost destroyed the tender shoots and leaves, just 

 then bursting from their envelopes, of most of the largest 

 trees of the Occidental Plane in England and Scotland, and 

 though some which were not killed by the first attack, 

 made an attempt to push again late in the season, the 

 feeble shoots they emitted were again destroyed by an 

 early autumnal frost ; this sealed their doom, as nature 

 was too much exhausted to make a successful effort the 

 following spring, and they speedily died. 



In Scotland, where trees of both species were standing 

 near to each other, the Oriental escaped ; and Sang, in 

 the " Planter's Calendar," p. 99, observes, "It is very 

 singular that of the Plat. Occidentalis the largest trees 

 only were killed ; trees of from twenty to twenty-five 

 feet in height were little hurt, and small ones not at 

 all, at least in every instance that came under our ob- 

 servation ;" and he adds, " we did not observe or hear 

 of a single Oriental Plane being injured in any part of 



