24 



The Indian Bean {Catalpa bignonioides). — For various 

 reasons this fast-growing tree is to be recommended for 

 planting in smoky localities. It grows with vigour in many 

 smoky centres, as in the Middle Temple Gardens, near the 

 Houses of Parliament, and at Chiswick and Camden Town ; is 

 a tree of handsome proportions, and when fully established, 

 flowers freely. The violet-white of the petals of the flowers is 

 well set off by the purple and yellow of the throat. A valuable 

 trait in the character of the Indian bean is that should 

 accident befall it, and the stem get injured, numerous strong 

 suckers are produced, which, as they grow with great 

 rapidity, soon take the place of the original. Few soils 

 come amiss to it. 



The Common Mulberry (Moms nigra) and the white- 

 fruited form [M. alba) may be seen growing satisfactorily in 

 several of the old gardens and nurseries of the Metropolis, 

 and where they are now buried alive, as might be said, in 

 stones and mortar. That they are excellent town trees will 

 be admitted by everybody who sees the fine specimens in 

 Liverpool and Manchester. 



The Honey Locust (Gleditschia triacanthos), is a tall 

 spreading tree, one of great beauty, and a very suitable 

 subject for planting in smoky localities. In many of the 

 worst smoke- infested parts of London and Manchester are 

 seen goodly specimens of this handsome tree ; not poor, 

 miserable trees, but from their great size, wealth of foliage, 

 and general appearance, betoken perfect health amid their 

 rather adverse surroundings. It grows very freely even 

 when rather carelessly planted, and in soil of inferior quality. 

 In autumn the long fruit-pods give to the honey locust a 

 distinct and curious appearance. 



The False Acacia (Robinia Pseud-acacia). — Probably 

 no other tree can compare with the False Acacia for with- 

 standing the prolonged heat and drought of our larger centres 

 of industry, a fact that has been brought forcibly home to us 

 by the behaviour of these both in France and England during 

 the present and past unusually warm summers. When the 

 whole of the ordinary vegetation is burnt up, the lime and 

 elm looking seared and sickly, and the holly dying out in 

 quantity by the long-continued drought and heat, the acacia 

 stands nobly out in all its freshness of branch and leaf, and, 

 if anything, blooms all the more freely for the scorching and 



