264 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICE'TUM. PARTY I1fi 
the branches were cut off close to the trunk. It shot out vigorously ; but the 
young shoots, not having had time to ripen, were destroyed by the frost. 
Notwithstanding this check, it again recovered, and afterwards became a fine 
tree, between 25 ft. and 30 ft. high, with a large, well proportioned head, and 
a trunk 4 ft. in circumference, the lower branches sweeping the ground; and 
the whole tree producing annually from 350 to 400 large, elegant, and sweet- 
scented flowers. The seeds, however, never arrive at perfect maturity ; although 
the fruit attains its full size, and remains upon the tree till the following 
spring.” (Nouv. Duh., i. p. 220.) This tree, as we have noticed in p. 138., still 
exists, and is now upwards of 30 ft. high, and 100 years of age. 
M. grandiflora, soon after its introduction into France and England, would 
doubtless find its way into the botanic gardens of Germany. In Italy, as 
already noticed in p. 169., the first planted trees were in the botanic garden at 
Padua, where, in 90 years, they have attained the height of 60 ft., with trunks 
4. ft. in diameter; and in the botanic garden at Pisa, as we are informed in 
the Nouveau Du Hamel, it produced perfect seeds, from which plants were 
raised by M. Marmier, on his estate at Rois, near Besancon. The tree has 
been introduced into the botanic gardens of Spain; also, it is believed, into 
those of South America and India ; and, as stated in p. 176., into the gardens. 
of China. 
Properties and Uses. The medical properties of the genus have been already 
mentioned. In Europe, it can only be considered in the light of an orna- 
mental tree, or rather, perhaps, shrub; as, generally speaking, it can only 
be cultivated with success when trained against a wall. 
Soil and Situation. In Europe, a deep sandy loam, dry at bottom, and en- 
riched with vegetable mould or heath soil, seems to suit all the varieties of 
this species. The situation in the colder parts of Europe may be exposed to 
the direct influence of the mid-day sun; but, in the south of France, and in 
Italy, the tree always thrives best when in the shade of other trees; and in 
these countries, also, it requires a moister soil than in England. Where the 
tree is to be treated as a standard, the situation should be sheltered from the 
points from which the highest winds are expected, but it should be open to. 
the south or south-east, to admit abundance of light and warmth. In general, 
where the fig tree will grow as a standard, and survive the winter without protec- 
tion, there the Magnolia grandiflora may be planted, and treated as astandard also. 
The best situations are, the south-east margin ofa shrubbery or wood, a sheltered 
place on a lawn, oran open glade inaplantation. Perhaps the finest situation for 
displaying the flowers of this tree, as a standard, would be a sloping bank of 
sandy soil facing the south-east. Here it might be mixed with a few of the 
deciduous magnolias, and particularly with M. conspicua ahd Soulangedna, 
which, as they flower before their leaves come out, would be set off to great 
advantage by the evergreen leaves of M. grandiflora. When this species is 
to be trained against a wall, any aspect may be chosen, except, perhaps, 
the north-east. To display the flowers to the greatest advantage, to a spec- 
tator walking in a direction nearly parallel to the wall, the ground plan of the 
latter. should be curvilinear, by which means a direct or front view of a con-' 
siderable portion would be brought before the spectator. In general, a seg- 
ment of a circle will be sufficient for a short wall; and two or more segments, 
forming an ogee, or a serpentine line, for a longer wall. In a very exposed. 
situation, a magnolia wall, 20ft. or 30 ft. high, might form three parts of a: 
round tower, open at top; the lateral opening facing the south, and the trees 
planted inside the tower. All the trees might easily be protected by throwing. 
a slight roof of boards over the tower during winter. If the tower were not 
more than 20 ft. or 30 ft. in diameter, the walls, if built of brick and cement, 
need not be thicker than 9 in., even if made 30 ft. high. Magnolias might be. 
grown in the inside of such a tower, and camellias on the outside. The 
wall may be of any height, from 10 ft. to 20 ft., or even 50 ft. A wall covered, 
with evergreen magnolias, interspersed with a few plants of M. conspicua, 
forms a beautiful medium of connexion between a conservatory and a flower-' 
garden or shrubbery; or it forms an admirable northern boundary to a winter. 
