Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-06-05
THOUSANDS or THEM IN THE
ROARING BABYLON.
ELM AND OAK FAVORED
Where They Grow and Of What Fam
lily They Archie Mulberry and
Some Famous Specimens of That
Sort-Deciduous Trees Thrive
Best in Smoky City.

city OF London can be counted by the
thousand. Although some are prom
inenly placed, many are hidden away
in courts anu Dackyards, standing
as mementos of a past generation OF
residents who spent their days near
whore they stand. Others were prob
ably planted on graves, and have
been permitted to remain until they
became of such stature as to be he'd
in veneration on account of Their
age Parts Of London were original.
ly woodlands, which have now almost
disappeared, to make room for the
progressive industry of a great city
The destruction OF trees through
period of centuries over the areas
selected for hab.tation was often a
ruthless process, but it was this clear
ing away of these beautiful attributes
of nature from the surroundings OF
dwelling houses that gave rise to a
passion among the occupiers to renew
acquaintance with them in their en-
closure, either by bringing young plants
from the countryside. or by raising
them from seeds.
The trees and shrubs in the city
may be considered as fairly represent
ing the kinds that can be trusted for
planting in the closer quarters of all
large towns, and those we mention
may be useful when a question arises
as to the most suitable trees for
growing in smoky atmosphere. Con-
sidering the enormous value of land
in the city area, and the immediate
surroundings, it is not less surprising
than pleasing to find so many trees
enlivening it with their refreshing
greery The old churchyards are.
for the most part, the favored spots
wherein the trees are found but the
dens, those of the Temple, Finsbury
C rcus, the GhaIterhouse st. Giles,
tripplegate, and St. Bartholomew
Hospital abundantly justifyins the
care bestowed upon them by their
beautiful appearance. The garden
of Finsbury Circus is probably the
most extensive, and walk round this
beautiful enclosure VIII inevitably sug-
gest to any experienced observer that
in planting a city garden, if TIE cir
cumstances are only fairy favorable,
we may make selection of deciduo1s
tees and shrubs, as taste may CT
rect, wIthout giving much heed to the
question whether this or that is suited
to a smoky atmosphere. When the
city trees are reviewed during the
month of May the lime is pre-emin-
ent for beauty. AS the summer adj
sances the plane vii acquire its
proper sp'endor. and the brilliant
coloring of the lime will wane.
The mulberry is found flourishing
in the city. It's origin there arose
through the rapid increase in wealth,
causing an extraordinary expenditure
upon clothes. the wives and daughters
of rich city merchants wing with
the fine ladies' of .le court. King
James anticipated the tariff reformers
of today, as he was anxious to start
silk production 1T home To tnat end
he offered packets of mulberry seeds
to all who would SOW them. and he al
so sent a circular letter in 1909 rec
ommending his courtiers to start the
planting of mulberry trees, and offer
ing young trees at the moderate sum
of two farthings apiece. To his en-
enlargement, no doubt we may trace
the fact of their presence in nearly al
old gardens that carry back to The
seventeenth century. The fig tree, too.
tiourishes well in the Charterhouse
garden, delightful retreat, and we
notice some have lately been planted
in st. Pauls nufchyard. where there
is a fine assortment of evergreers.
Other trees of interest are found at
st. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury,
the solitary plane. in Love-lane, which
should have seat round it instead OF
an iron railing; the passages at the
Guildhall; the rockery under the trees
at st. Adams. Wood street; the
cherished graveyard in Oak lane
where stood the Church of st. Mary
before the Great Fire-fere is found
a laburnum, evidently fourishing as
it will carry flowers shortly; the oid
churchyard in FALCON square; the eli.
dern at st. Annes in Gresnem street:
and ,-.e sparrows home in Queen
street and-Cannon street. where thons-
ands of these chattering birds con-
gregate every evening. II Bank OF
England, the Temple. and the Charter
house show that the best evergreens
are in the very first place the Irish
ivy. the common holly the euonymus.
Japonica. The rhododenoI 0ns at the
the box, ne privet, and the Aucuba
Bank of England make a cheerful
show in spring.
There vet remain. beyond doubt.
hidden away in the rear of houses, a
few trees o, an age ard beauty to de-
serve consideration. Leigh Hunt once
remarked that there was scarcely a
street in London but coul boast of a
tree. Since his day the city of London
has lost many and gained a few Put
altogethe~ within the Knowled e of
the present generation very many
CITY trees. have been improved" away.
few spots previously neglected have
been creditably embellished, and a
number of the atriarchsl trees re
m ofu The ~7-aII b., rvr-,, nIaro s,,r4 81