13 JANUARY 1950, Page 13

Urban Trees

Not long since I made a rather unkind reference to the planting of trees in parts of London, where the plane and the much suckering ailanthus (a tree of earth rather than "of heaven ") took exclusive posses- sion. There are, however, North London districts, notably Southgate, where a score and more of species have been planted, including the most suitable and lovely catalpa and tulip tree and service tree with apples and a variety of prunus. The district has gone one better even than the authorities of the more open garden cities.