The English Yew (Taxus baccata)

The English Yew (Taxus baccata) can hardly be recommended as a suitable tree for smoky localities, although in suburban districts it grows freely, and there forms a dense, healthy dark green mass. From this it must not, however, be inferred that the Yew cannot survive in smoky towns, for it grows freely wherever it is not subjected to an inordinate amount of atmospheric impurities. Soil of fairly good quality should be used when planting the Yew, particularly where the surroundings are unfavourable.

The Horse Chestnut (AEsculus Hippo-castanum)

The Horse Chestnut (AEsculus Hippo-castanum) and the English Elm (Ulmus cam-pestris) may be seen in a fairly satisfactory way in many town parks, but only where they are not exposed to smoke and soot to any great extent. In confined spaces both these trees soon show signs of distress, the points of the branches gradually becoming unhealthy and the trees ultimately dying off prematurely. Taking everything into consideration, neither of these trees can be recommended for planting in smoky districts, though in the more open parts, as in Hyde or Regent's Park, they last for a long time and attain to good old age.

The Hop Hornbeam (Ostrya carpini-folia)

The Hop Hornbeam (Ostrya carpini-folia) has been proved an excellent tree for planting in smoky districts; indeed, for such a purpose it stands almost first on the list. It is a much-branched, round-headed tree, with cordate-ovate, acuminate leaves, and attains to a height of 50ft. By reason of the resemblance of the female catkins to hops and the leaves to those of the Hornbeam, it has acquired the very descriptive name of the Hop Hornbeam. The flowers are greenish white.

The Birch, Walnut, Hornbeam, and one or two kinds of Willow will succeed in the less smoky parts of a town; but they are not to be recommended for planting where the air is constantly impregnated with soot and dust.

The Mountain Ash or Rowan Tree (Pyrus Aucaparia)

The Mountain Ash or Rowan Tree (Pyrus Aucaparia) has proved itself to be a valuable small-growing tree for planting in urban districts. It is also a tree of great beauty, whether in flower or fruit, one that grows almost anywhere, and with a minimum of attention. In many town streets, where the air is vitiated with fumes, the Mountain Ash grows with great freedom.

The Alder (Alnus Cordata)

In this we have a good addition to the few trees that are really suitable for town planting, for it grows with great vigour and retains much of its fresh, spring-tide greenness in very smoky and impure localities. Of hardy constitution and unusually strong growth, it seems to defy the sooty emanations from hundreds of chimneys in two at least of our largest centres of industry.

The Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo Biloba)

A visit to the worst smoke-infested slums in London has now quite convinced me that the Maidenhair or Ginkgo Tree is one of the most valuable that can be planted in the impure atmosphere of a town garden. Few trees, I am fully aware, can compare with the one in question for withstanding the deleterious effects produced on vegetation generally by coming in too close contact with the impurities of our great centres of industry. The ample delicate green foliage betrays - even late in the season, and when about to be cast off - little evidence of the fierce struggle that must almost constantly go on between vegetation and the smoke and filth of our towns and cities. That the thick leathery leaves and 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 anywhere in the country; indeed about as large trunks as can be seen anywhere are growing in the smoke of Chelsea and the Commercial Road. Not only as a standard tree is the Maidenhair 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.