THE SION VISTA AND THE THAMES 185 
Oaks. 
vulgaris), underneath which is a collection of ivies originally formed 
by Shirley Hibberd and acquired for Kew at his death. 
Having passed through the chestnuts we arrive at the oaks, 
perhaps the most important of the tree collections in Kew. They 
cover several acres between the Chestnut Avenue and the 
river. Here are oaks from all the cool temperate parts of 
the northern hemisphere : from China, Japan, Manchuria, the Hima- 
laya, California, Eastern United States, Caucasus, Asia Minor, Spain, 
and various parts of South and Eastern Europe, besides a large 
number of varieties of the two British species — the common and 
durmast oaks. Of the more interesting kinds the visitor will find 
here, a few may be mentioned : the kermes oak ( Qucrcus coccifera), 
an evergreen bush on which feeds the kermes insect, the source of 
one of the finest and most durable of crimson dyes ; the golden oak 
of Cyprus ( Q . alnifolia), with leaves tawny yellow beneath ; Q. densi- 
flora, from Oregon and California, with leaves that are milk-white 
beneath when young ; various “ red oaks ” whose leaves turn brilliant 
red in autumn, especially Q. coccinea ; the big-leaved oaks of Europe, 
Q. Mirbecki, conferta, and macr anther a ; the still bigger-leaved one 
of Japan, Q. dentata ; the evergreen Japanese species, Q. acuta, 
glabra, and cuspidata, with foliage like laurels ; several varieties 
of the “ ilex ” or holm oak ; and the cork oak ( Q . suber). One thing 
that makes this collection of particular value and interest is the fact 
that many of the species and varieties are no longer obtainable in 
the United Kingdom. 
At the southern limit of the collection of oaks is a mound known 
in Kew as “ Mount Pleasant.” It is worth examining, because it 
affords a very good example of the way to treat an abrupt 
eminence of this kind, where the soil is not good and 
the position, of course, dry. It is planted with a selection 
of flowering shrubs that thrive in dry, hot positions. Among them 
will be noticed double-flowered gorse, lavender, rosemary, various 
sorts of cistuses and rock-roses, Spanish broom, and lavender-cotton. 
When the gorse is in bloom this mound presents a brilliant and con- 
spicuous mass of colour. Two other mounds at the lower end of 
the Lake close by are treated in a similar way. 
We have now reached the western extremity of the gardens at 
present open to the public. Near the end of the gravel path which 
crosses the Sion Vista just here is the Isleworth Ferry Gate : this 
Effective 
Planting. 
