COUNTRY LIFE
GARDENS, as well as houses, suffered from German bombs and have needed re-making. The extent of such work in and about London—that rus in urbe—has induced the always excellent Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (Higham House, Curio= Street, W.1) to produce a booklet (price 4s. 6d.) with coloured pictures giving authentic and particular information about the trees and shrubs that most fitly consent to a mutual relation with urban conditions. The lists and little comments will interest all sorts of gardeners as well as urban dwellers. Many of the streets of London are, so to say, plane tales. The London plane, as even botanists call it, strips its bark and, most quaintly and effectively, sheaths next year's bud, thus doubly defeating the dusty atmosphere. Local authorities dislike it nevertheless. It is a "litter lout " and has disturbing roots. It has even been alleged that its seed-heads affect human tubes adversely, like the " micaceous spicules of triturated vegetation" which some too learned doctor quoted as an irritation to cockney throats. We are therefore likely to see the plane-progressively banished, and the Association come down in favour of the afianthus or
tree of heaven as the best alternative. Ever since seeing the scus in gorgeous flower. in Battersea Park I have wondered why so ft private gardeners grow it, " an excellent city shrub."
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