21 



strong constitution of the tree play an important part in 

 keeping it free from disease is clearly evident, while the fact 

 of the leaves being renewed annually must go a long way 

 towards casting off the sooty nodules which work such havoc 

 on the tender foliage of most trees. 



At no less than five places in and around the great 

 Metropolis — and such places, too, where one is almost stifled 

 with the fumes from chimneys — the maidenhair tree may be 

 seen almost in as fresh and flourishing a condition as those 

 enviable specimens on the Isle of Man ; indeed, about as 

 large trunks as can be seen anywhere are growing in the 

 smoke of Chelsea. Not only as a standard tree is the maiden- 

 hair valuable, but it is also one of the prettiest wall plants 

 with which I am acquainted, and how many bare, ugly 

 erections of brick and stone in our city streets want a bit of 

 greenery, I would not like to say. 



The Ailanthus, or Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus 

 glandulosa), may be seen in a flourishing condition in many 

 of the London streets and byeways. By its rich green 

 spreading foliage, the Ailanthus is, during the summer 

 months, a great favourite with lovers of sylvan scenery, the 

 leaves in many cases reaching to a length of fully two feet. 

 It is a tree of very rapid growth when suitably placed as 

 regards soil and situation, shoots nearly two feet being often 

 produced in a season. 



It has been largely planted in many Continental cities, 

 and has proved itself one of the few trees that are capable of 

 withstanding the impurities of a town atmosphere. The 

 greenish white, inconspicuous flowers, are freely produced, 

 and are succeeded by innumerable fruits resembling the keys 

 of the ash, but of a reddish-brown colour, which imports to 

 the tree a wealth of autumn glory that we, unfortunately^ 

 are seldom permitted to witness in this country. 



The Weeping Ash (Fraxinus excelsior pendula). — 

 Within a stone's-throw of Liverpool Street Railway Station, 

 and hemmed in by bricks and mortar, may be seen one of the 

 handsomest and healthiest members of the ash family that 

 could probably be found in the great Metropolis. The 

 particular specimen in question is the dwarf weeping ash 

 {Fraxinus excelsior pendula) which forms during summer a 

 hemispherical head of the brightest pea-green foliage — a 



