The Southernwood (Artemisia abrota-num)

The Southernwood (Artemisia abrota-num) can also be recommended for planting where smoke and other impurities are present in the atmosphere. It is a small growing shrub, with highly aromatic, deep green, Rue-like foliage, and a plentiful supply of dirty yellow flowers. Although interesting as a town shrub, it can lay claim to no value as an ornamental species.

The Common Fig (Ficus Carica)

In almost every part of London, as well as in Glasgow, Liverpool, and Manchester, the Common Fig succeeds well as a town plant. Even during hot, dry seasons it never flags, and the ample, deeply lobed leaves have a bright and cheery appearance. It succeeds best where the roots have unrestricted room for development and where they are within the reach of water - indeed, some of the largest and healthiest specimens we know of have sent their roots down into old disused sewer pits. As a wall plant it is best adapted. There are noble examples of the Fig at Lambeth Palace, in Bloomsbury Square, and at St. Giles-in-the-Fields.

The Buckeye (AEsculus parviflora)

The Buckeye (AEsculus parviflora), - As an ornamental shrub or small-growing tree, the Buckeye has few equals, and, being able to do battle in quite a satisfactory way with the impurities connected with a town atmosphere, its value for general planting is greatly increased. It forms a perfect hemisphere of foliage, the leaves resembling those of the Horse Chestnut, and when crowned with the pure white flowers and red-tipped anthers, has indeed few equals in a decorative way. It requires to be planted in rich, dampish loam and to have plenty of room for branch development.

The Judas Tree (Cercis Siliquastrum)

This shrub, or small-growing tree, has distinct claims on the town planter, for it succeeds in a fairly satisfactory manner at many points of the great metropolis. It is of somewhat ungainly growth, but the handsome deep green, reniform leaves, and rosy-purple flowers make up for this defect. The fact of the flowers being produced along the branches and before the leaves are developed is a distinct advantage. Rather damp loam and a shadyish situation will suit well the wants of the Judas Tree.

The Bay Tree (Laurus Nobilis)

Many persons are under the impression that the Sweet Bay Tree is peculiarly suited for smoky localities, the idea being fostered by the large pot and tub specimens that are to be seen at many of the hotels and other public buildings throughout the metropolis. Although the Bay has few equals as a standard pot or tub specimen, the foliage being neat and sweetly scented and the general appearance highly decorative, yet that it has distinct advantages in the way of doing battle with an impure atmosphere is not borne out by facts. It may and does succeed for a time, and, being a general favourite, is replaced when showing signs of distress, thus giving the casual observer the impression that it has special advantages for using in close, confined and smoky parts of our towns and cities. Where expense of renewal is a matter of little moment, and a decidedly ornamental specimen shrub is required, by all means plant the Sweet Bay. Its cultural requirements are simple, but the soil in which it is growing as a pot or tub plant must be kept uniformly damp. It is, comparatively speaking, an expensive shrub.