Dec, 20—A correspondent asks' us_a few questions regarding trees and as they may be. fof general-Interest, we refer to them today. The first 1s, "Do trees suffer from Elephantiasis?™ and as' an example of what the writer means, he draws our attention to a tree on: Avenue Haig, close to house No. $09, We have inspected the ree and it would be dificult to find a better example: we admit that the tr ook as if It 1s, suffering fromthe mentioned, The lower section of the tree looks more like a large gall, similar to those we often find on oaks, than a trunk of a tree. Fungi or bacteria "are. frequently responsible for' the {rritation which results in overgrown tissue, but mechanical "injuries "can also cause galls fand we feel that the plane tree referred to, has developed. its "Elephantiasis" through a. series fof mechanical injuries. When a strong-growing tree is -pollarded and "not root-pruned. at the same time, there must be'a surplus of food, and new shoots, are encouraged. to develop from dormant "eyes: these. shoots are continually being removed and the resultantirritation causes the tissues to develop abnormally. The trunk appears to swell and look unsightly, The second Question was "Does street lighting affect, trees?" and to this question, we reply. Yes!" We member Keeping a,'plane tree, under observation for two years! It was located {in front of the premises known as "The Hot Spot" caf6: and although the name of the eats may have encouraged thie tree somewhat, the neon light in front. of the' eats. were chiefly responsible for it retaining its foliage long after all other trees in the neighbourhood were bare. There are many similar examples to be seen on our roads at present. We know a plane tree avenue in the French Concession which pre= ha of every tree sents a peculiar appearance: most of the trees
planted close to a attest lamp, are sil retain:
3 the feat, bt sect Ing their foliage was say about. the weather in early October, when Jan, 2—We hada lot of impolite things to
the excessive Painfall crested' such havoc. local gardens, so ft is only tale that we should refer to the exceptionally mild "weather. ex Berlenced in December, There. wore. several oid opalls; but, on the whole, the weather was lens ant, even if it way unseséonable. Many caught colds; but we had the: pleasure Yenowing that. we had 'a powerful ally. in our fight against the high cost'of fuel and there has been no necessity to spend mich on greenhouse heating systems up to the present, me, Today
lovely Spring morning, Just perfect for a stroll.
the aay of the Year and it waa We walked into. a gordet. on. Eubbling Well Rond and found several clumps. of red salvia Stil in" bloom on the "western frontage of a building. A" group of heavenly: Famboo, with érimgon: tintedletves looked charming. against {he bluish foliage of eoveral" cedars, whose spreading branches had succeeded in protecting Many. more red salvia plants Blossoma. were several potted specimens of "MeL plum) "and tore were: many "Late" Plants in ull bloom. Elsa Poulsen roses were producing flowers, white violets were peep {ng ut of numerous nooks in the rock garden. Several plants. "of- that' Cape of 'Good' Hope member of the Compoaitae.family—~Gazazla-—were revelling in the right sunshine and oven saw some Fed pepper plants that ad sire Slved' the few cold nights that we have fo far. The owner of the garden Yikes to keep Fis bedding plants' innissety. beds. all the Winter and' he has found a novel; and-at he same time utilitarian, method. of providing a green "carpet" for his large flower beds: ho has planted hundreds of plants of the Chinese Savoy (Brassica narinosa), The dark green Yeaves of this plant grow during the winter and re picked.as required for the table I It Is an excellent vegetable, much more. nutritious than many of the so-called foreign ones, and just a safe to eat—w.s.K.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.