XL. 1. THE SMALL MAGNOLIA. 527 



Massachusetts; but several others, and those among the most 

 beautiful, may be cultivated. 



The Cucumber Tree, Magnolia acuminata, is found, accord- 

 ing to Dr. Torrey, in New York, and may, probably, hereafter 

 be found, scattered in favorable situations, in the western part 

 of the State. It grows perfectly well at the Botanic Garden, at 

 Cambridge. Michaux says it is one of the most magnificent trees 

 in North America. Its large flowers, five or six inches across, 

 are very conspicuous, among its ample foliage, as is its cylindrical 

 fruit, three or four inches long, with the scarlet seeds depending 

 from it. But its branches are long and bare, except at the end, 

 and it wants much of equalling in grace, fulness and beauty, the 

 greater part of our forest, trees. 



A much more beautiful tree, as it grows here, for shape, foli- 

 age and flowers, is the Long-leaved Cucumber Tree, M. auric- 

 ulata. It grows readily, but attains not a great height. 



The Three-petalled, the Heart-leaved, the Yulan and the 

 Purple may also be cultivated. They are propagated by seed, 

 by layers or by inarching, and, while young, are best preserved 

 in pots. 



The Small Magnolia. Swamp Laurel. M. sciatica. L. 



Figured in Michaux, Sylva, II, Plate 52 ; in Bigelow's Medical Botany, II, 

 Plate 27 ; and in Catesby's Birds, Plate 39. 



A sheltered swamp near Cape Ann, not far from the sea, is 

 thought to be the most northern habitation of this plant, and 

 until lately was supposed to be the only one in Massachusetts. It 

 has recently been found at the distance of some miles, in another 

 swamp, in the midst of deep woods in Essex. From these situa- 

 tions it will soon be completely extirpated. The fragrant flowers 

 and even the leaves are in such request, that early in the flower- 

 ing season, numbers of persons resort to the swamps in quest of 

 them, and great quantities are annually carried to Salem and 

 Boston for sale. The gatherers of the flowers are regardless of 

 the preservation of the trees, and in a single season I have noticed 

 scores of them broken down and almost entirely destroyed. 



Few ornamental plants are better worth the attention of the 

 gardener. Carefully trained, it forms a beautiful little tree. The 



