REMARKS ON THE MAGNOLIA. 231 



too hasty in grubbing up the roots. The magnolia is generally in- 

 jured most by the early frost, as the extremities of the young shoots 

 are then tender. 



His Grace the Duke of Richmond has two of the finest standard 

 magnolia grandiflora trees in this country, at his seat at Goodwood in 

 Sussex, one of which, at six inches from the ground, girths four feet, 

 and at four feet from the ground, three feet five inches ; at about five 

 feet from the earth it divides into branches, forming a very beautiful 

 head about thirty feet in height. The other is forty-five feet in 

 height, and measures five feet in circumference at fourteen inches 

 from the ground : these trees flower abundantly every year. The 

 time of their having been planted cannot be now correctly ascer- 

 tained. 



The Magnolia should occupy a situation sheltered from the north 

 and north-east winds, but fully exposed to the south or south-west 

 sun. It seems to thrive in the sea air, when the situation is not ex- 

 posed ; and the soil congenial to this tree is a deep rich loam, rather 

 dry than moist. 



From the noble appearance and extreme beauty of this tree, we 

 think it deserving of more care than is generally bestowed on it, so 

 as to secure it from the frost, and which might easily be done by plac- 

 ing blocks of wood in the earth, with mortices in them, into which 

 poles might be fixed, and a frame or wirework thrown over, to lay 

 mats or other covering on during the inclement nights. Tall ever- 

 greens, of the darkest foliage, form the most proper back ground for 

 this tree. 



Our nurserymen frequently raise these trees from seeds, which are 

 sown in pots, and plunged into old hotbeds of tanners' bark. They 

 are seldom strong enough to be planted in the open ground under six 

 years ; therefore gardeners are justly entitled to a considerable price 

 for a plant that has required so much of their attention in its propa- 

 gation. The magnolia may also be raised from layers and cuttings ; 

 but these seldom make handsome standard trees. 



We have now about forty species and varieties of this plant, most 

 of which are natives of North America, and nine belong to India, 

 China, or Japan, and others raised by hybridizing in this country, 

 France, &c, and should we be able to naturalize them so as to endure 

 our winters in the open air, as the common tulip tree has been made 



