4IO 



MV GARDEN. 



There are many varieties of Elm, but the one cultivated about 

 Wallington is chiefly, if not entirely, the true English elm (fig. 933). 

 At some former period the elm appears to have been the favourite 

 tree. It is not much planted at the present time round London, as 

 of late years it has extensively died, and in our London parks has 

 been replaced by the plane-tree. The Weeping Elm, a variety of 

 the Scotch Elm {Ulmus inontand) has large leave;s and horizontal 

 branches, drooping at their tips, well adapted to shade a seat, for 

 which purpose I have one planted near the entrance to my fernery. 

 The effect which a large Elm has upon the landscape is well seen 

 in the moonlight view (plate 21), where an old tree in Beddington 

 Park is conspicuous. 



Fig. 933.— Elm. 



Fig. 934.— Black Italian Poplar. 



Fig. 934 «. — Lombardy 

 Poplar. 



Next to the Elm, the Black Italian Poplar {Populus monilifera, fig- 

 934) takes a prominent place. It grows perhaps the most rapidly of all 

 trees, and is a desirable one to shut out unsightly objects. Very tall trees 

 of this species grow on the south side of the river, and these now 

 overshadow the south-west part of my garden. The Black Italian Poplar 

 tree is not a favourite of mine, as the branches are long and strag- 

 gling; nevertheless, for the special object of rapidly covering buildings, 

 it has no equal, although it is late before it expands its leaves in spring. 



A Lombardy poplar or two (Populus fastigiata, fig. 934^) agreeably 

 varies a landscape. Its branches are upright, and it attains great height 



