172 



A SELECTION OF THE BEST TREES 



Lombarcly poplar^ retains its glossy tealtli and vigour, 

 proving its claims to be far more abundantly used tban at 

 present. Avenues of this tree vrould tell as well in some 

 positions in cities as single specimens and groups of it do in 

 the landscape. The drip of trees is sometimes objected to : 

 this erect and close growing kind would seem to oflPer itself 

 for rather narrow streets and positions, where a spreading 

 habit or drip might be an inconvenience at any time. I 

 do not recommend its use on an extensive scale ; but it is 

 so handsome and distinct in outline, stands droughty dust, 

 and bad soil so admirably, that we are bound to recognise 

 its merits far more than at present, and there are many 

 positions in London in which it would be highly appro- 

 priate. Of other tapering columnar or fastigiate trees, the 

 pyramidal variety of the Oak and the tapering variety of 

 the Robinia do particularly well in the parks ; and the last 

 is deserving of recommendation for the town garden. 



Of weeping trees, in addition to the long-proved and in- 

 dispensable Weeping Willow — which it is needless to recom- 

 mend here, as most people will have noticed its bewitching 

 outlines in some of our parks — we have the weeping Birch, 

 Ash, Beech, and Elm, in all cases in perfect health in the 

 parks. There is one tree of those above-mentioned which 

 deserves to be much better known — the weeping variety of 

 the large-leaved Elm (Ulmus montana pendula). This is a 

 tree of much beauty and character, and it does not seem in 

 the least to suffer from the atmosphere of London. It is a 

 weeping tree of the first order : its foliage is massive, shade 

 dense, and outline most picturesque when thickly clothed in 

 summer — the backbone, so to speak, of each widespreading 

 branch being seen just glistening above the dense mass of 

 leaves, in consequence of none of the branchlets showing 

 above their support. They are all of the true drooping 

 tendency. It is a hardier and better constitutioned tree 

 than the Weeping Willow, and never grows too high for a 

 London or any other town garden ; however, it spreads too 

 wide for those of the smallest pattern. In all courtyards 

 or open gravelled spaces, in little squares wherever a shady 

 tree is desired, it is invaluable. To form a shady bower 



