Hortus Britanno-Americanus. 
1. Magnolia altifima, flore ingenii candido. 
The Laurel-tree of Carolina. 
| ) F all the trees able to endure our climate, that have yet been introduced to England, 
() there is none that can equal this magnificent ever-green. Its ample and fragrant 
blofioms, the curious ftru€ture and beauty of its purple cones and pendent fcarlet 
feeds, fucceflively adorn and perfume the woods from May to O&ober; and juftly intitle it to 
the pre-eminence amongft the varieties in the forefts of America. Thefe trees grow in the 
lower parts of Carolina, and particularly in fuch places as are unfrequented by cattle and hogs; 
which creatures are fo fond of the young plants, that they crop off their heads as faft as they 
appear above ground; by which means they are now become almoft exting in many parts of 
the country, where they abounded before the introduétion of cattle. 
Towards procuring the feeds of this tree in good condition, the fuccefs depends in a great 
meafure on their being kept in fuch a degree of heat and moifture as is requifite to preferve 
them in their long paflage; for if they are put up too dry, their juices will remain inaétive _ 
and make no effort towards vegetation; if they are kept too warm and moift, they will {prout 
in the box and perifh; and too much moifture and cold rots them. | 
The following method I recommend from my own experience: The cones or feed-veffels 
fhould be plucked from the tree in the month of September, when the feeds manifeft their , 
beginning to ripen by burfting forth from the little cells wherein they are contained. After 
the cones have lain by for a little while, the feeds may be taken out and fent to England as 
foon as opportunity offers, being packed up in the manner here defcribed. 
Prepare a {quare box of the fize of a bufhel or lef, at the bottom of which put a layer of 
light earth two inches deep, fpread thereon a fingle layer of feeds, then again a layer of earth, © 
S B and 
