It is impossible to prescribe the best plants for all London gardens, as there is such a great difference in soil and aspect, that what does well in one part will not flourish in another. The heavy soil of Regent's Park, for instance, is well suited to peonies, which do not seem at home in Chelsea. On the other hand, some of the showy, hardy spring flowers, such as wallflowers and forget-me-nots, die off with fogs much more quickly in the Regent's Park than in other districts. Any deciduous tree or shrub thrives better than an evergreen or a conifer in any part of London. The fresh growth of clean leaves every year, by which the plant absorbs much of its nourishment, must necessarily be better for it than dried-up, blackened leaves. Among flowering shrubs, a great number grow sturdily in London. Laburnums of all kinds, thorns in many varieties, flower well; lilacs grow and look fresh and green everywhere, but cannot be depended on always to flower; almonds, snowy medlars, double cherries, weigelas or diervillas succeed; broom, Forsythias, acacia, syringa, many kinds of prunus, ribes, rose acacia, Guelder rose, Japanese red peach, Kerria japonica, Hibiscus Syriacus, or Althï¾µa frutex, are all satisfactory, and many more could be mentioned. Tucca glorisa will stand any amount of smoke, and Aralia spinosa does well in many parts; and among evergreens, Arbutus Andrachne can be recommended. Fruit-trees, pears, and apples are charming when in bloom, and in a large space, or to cover a wall, figs are valuable.
