4 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



6. Quercus obtusata Humboldt and Bonpland (Elwes and 

 Henry, v. 1312). (Fig. 5.) 



This is one of the most important specimens in the Cambridge 

 Botanic Garden. It is a fine, handsome tree, the largest known in 

 cultivation — indeed the only one known of any size. It was 39 ft. 

 high and 35 ft. through in 1910, and is now 42J ft. high and 38 ft. 

 through. It is a native of Mexico, and widely spread in the mountains 

 of the south, where it forms a large tree. It was discovered by Hum- 

 boldt near Ario at an elevation of 6000 ft. The wood is very compact 

 and strong, taking a fine polish. In general appearance this tree is 

 not very unlike the common pedunculate Oak, but the leaves are sub- 

 evergreen and are retained until about March. The leaves, like those 

 of Q. pedimciilata, are quite glabrous beneath and are auricled at the 

 base ; but besides the sub-evergreen character there is the difference 

 of a longer petiole, more (instead of usually less) than Jin. long. It is 

 a good tree for the landscape, the bright green leaves being valuable in 

 effect when other trees are bare. 



7. Asimina triloba Dun. Monog. Anon. (Bot. Mag. t. 5854). 

 (Figs. 3, 4.) 



This is one of the most interesting of the trees in the Cambridge 

 Botanic Garden, and the finest example known in Great Britain. It is 

 15 ft. 4 in. in height, having gained 14 in. in four years, and is 20J 

 through, a gain of 4 ft. in four years. It is the only species of the 

 order Anonaceae, usually a Tropical Natural Order, that is known to 

 be hardy in this country. It is the Custard Apple or Papaw of the 

 Middle, Western, and Southern United States of America, and is allied 

 to the Cherimoya of Peru, the Custard Apple and the Soursop of the 

 West Indies. The fruit is fragrant and edible ; it varies in quality, 

 but selections well worth eating can be made. It is yellow in colour. 

 The tree grows from 15 to 30 ft. high, and is found on the banks 

 of streams. This latter fact explains in great measure the fineness of 

 the Cambridge specimen. It is growing within a few feet of the pond, 

 and has a stream of water on the side away from it. The tree was 

 introduced by Peter Colinson in 1756. 



8. Acer creticum Linn. 



This species of Maple is one of the smallest, and is distinct in its 

 nearly evergreen character and the slight lobing of its small coriaceous 

 leaves. The tree in 1910 was 16 ft. high and 14 ft. 6 in. through ; it is 

 now 17 ft. 6 in. high and 17ft. 6 in. through. At Syon House some 

 time ago there was a large tree not in good health. In the Jardin des 

 Plantes, Paris, according to Lindley, a tree 130 years planted was 

 31 ft. high ; and a tree at Worlitz 55 years planted was 40 ft. high. 

 The Cambridge tree flowers freely, and good seeds have sometimes 

 been produced, from which seedlings have been raised. It is a native 

 of Greece, Crete, and Lycia, and was introduced in 1752. According 

 to a synopsis of the Maples in cultivation by Elwes and Henry, this 

 species is the only one with trilobed leaves minutely crenulated. Its 



