When the confined situation and impurities of the atmosphere are taken into account, it is surprising to what a state of perfection certain trees and shrubs attain in London. In proof of this we may point to the noble Plane trees that are to be found in many of our public squares and gardens, as also giant specimens of the Acacia, Elm, Poplar, Ailanthus, Mulberry, and Sumach, not to speak of numerous shrubs. But it is not only in the more open and healthy parts, but even in some of the smaller and more confined courts and areas in the very heart of the metropolis (where the height of the surrounding buildings almost shuts out the sunlight and prevents a free circulation of air, and where the atmosphere is constantly smoky and impure), it is surprising that trees and shrubs are able to survive for even a very limited period of time. Take, as an example, the little, disused churchyard in Fen Court, Fenchurch Street: the few Ivies and Aucubas that are able to eke out an existence there have their leaves so thickly encrusted with soot and dust as to be scarcely recognisable; in fact, it is no exaggeration to say that at times the encrustation is as thick as the leaves. For all this they grow on from year to year, while the half-dozen Elm trees in the same place are wonderfully healthy when the confined area and impure atmosphere are taken into account. Again, at St. Giles-in-the-Fields, the Euonymus and Aucuba are scarcely recognisable, the stems and leaves being thickly encrusted with the soot and dirt that is so bountifully poured into this confined area from the chimneys of some of the works hard by. Yet they succeed after a fashion, as do also the Ivy, Common Fig, and Black Italian Poplar - the latter better than the Plane. The Lambeth Borough Recreation ground is certainly surpassed by no other open space in London for a confined, smoky, and chemically impure atmosphere, and the few soot-begrimed Hollies and Euonymus that manfully struggle to eke out an existence in this worst of the pottery districts, though precious to the surrounding householders, are scarcely presentable from an ornamental point of view. At the Royal Mint, where the chemical fumes from the gold refining works are speedy death to most forms of vegetation, the Fastigiate Poplar, the Acacia, and Plane trees do best, whilst among bedding plants it is a somewhat strange fact that the little edging Fuchsia, Golden Treasure succeeds admirably.

The London Plane (Platanus Orientalis Acerifolia)

The magnificent specimens of the Plane that are to be seen in Portman, Cavendish, and Manchester Squares, or the equally fine old trees that are growing in Lincoln's Inn Fields or in the gardens of Gray's Inn and the Temple, clearly point out how well suited this tree is for doing battle with the impurities of a town atmosphere. In Bedford, Russell, and Gordon Squares, too, there are many large and well grown examples of the Plane tree, some of which tower to fully 70 ft. in height, the branch spread being quite as much, while the smooth, well-rounded stems girth from 5 to 7 ft. at a yard from ground level. There are also many fine examples in our parks of the London Plane, such as those by the lake side in Regent's Park and on the north side of the Green Park. It is, however, not only in the more open squares and gardens that we find the Plane thriving in quite a satisfactory manner; but even in the most dense and confined parts of the City, where the tree is hemmed in by buildings and where the branches have scarcely room for development, it shows but little signs of the cramped and unnatural quarters to which it has been allotted, and where it so happily displays its marvellous capabilities in resisting almost every kind of adverse influence. Of this there are many examples throughout London, as at Amen and Dean's Court, St. Paul's, in Wood Street, Cheapside, in Star Yard by the Law Courts, and in the Court of Stationers' Hall, Ludgate Hill, in all of which places this stateliest of our forest trees has scarcely room for branch development owing to the proximity of the adjoining buildings. For all this the Plane stands out conspicuous, for, by some special happy constitution in its nature, it not only thrives in the most confined and smoky localities, but, judging from its healthy, vigorous growth it absolutely appears to enjoy combating with the destructive influences that associate themselves with our larger centres of industry.