166 A SELECTION OF THE BEST TREES 



Looking for a moment at the Plane in a wild and culti- 

 vated state in the pure air, we find it second to none. It 

 possesses the hardiness of a North American Indian, and 

 the massive and noble port of " Daniel Boon, backwoods- 

 man, of Kentucky." Pound in a wild state over a vast 

 portion of the North American continent, in its fullest per- 

 fection, along the great rivers which fall into Chesapeake 

 Bay, and in the fertile valleys of the West,— where it is 

 constantly found to be the loftiest tree of the United 

 States, it becomes one of the noblest trees in British 

 parks and woods, and reminds us of its native land of great 

 trees, rivers, woods, and prairies. Fairly and roundly de- 

 veloped specimens have in summer almost the grace of a 

 weeping tree. In winter the branches retain this character, 

 but also present a rugged Gothic picturesqueness, which 

 makes them highly agreeable to look upon, while the pendulous 

 seed-vessels and striking column-like bole add to their at- 

 tractions in the wintry season, when the trees are at rest 

 and safe from the evil effects of smoke. To these advan- 

 tages may be added the one that large specimens may be 

 transplanted with safety — a very desirable point in a city 

 tree. I could point to many parts of London where what 

 is here stated of the advantages of this tree could be seen* 

 in a moment — from north-western squares near smoky 

 King's Cross, to the western and southern parts of town, 

 with a drier soil and better air, and even to the very heart 

 of the city, where it appears to do as well as anywhere else. 



As we are now almost commencing street and city garden- 

 ing it is most desirable that we should have no failures — that 

 things of this kind should be done so as to satisfy all. Places 

 like the Thames Embankment should command the finest 



tree: 



" We needB must love the noblest when we see it," 



says Tennyson ; and amongst town trees it must be the Plane. 

 I can imagine nothing more calculated to bring town- garden- 

 ing into disrepute than such a specimen of planting as that in 

 the Mall in St. James's Park. Had the Plane been planted 

 there it would have made a noble avenue — the Elm now 

 forms a miserable one. 



