28 THE BOOK OF SHRUBS 



remove a small portion of the least satisfactory and 

 then add the leaf-mould and manure. Magnolias may 

 be propagated by layering in the summer, which is the 

 most simple method of increase, and cuttings of the half- 

 ripened shoots with a small portion of the old wood at 

 the base. They present a very attractive appearance 

 arranged singly or in small groups on the lawn or along 

 the front of the shrubbery. 



The most desirable of the shrubby species are Mag- 

 nolia obovata, a handsome species about five feet high and 

 bearing large tulip-shaped flowers, white on the inner 

 and purple on the outer side, in April and May. M. 

 obovata purpurea has flowers larger in size and deeper in 

 colour than those of the type. M. parviflora, a distinct 

 species, about six feet high, and bearing globular white 

 flowers suffused with rose, in April and May. M. 

 stellata, a most valuable species growing from two to 

 four feet high, and bearing in great profusion star-like 

 fragrant flowers with numerous strap-shaped petals in 

 March and April. This is the finest of all the white 

 flowered shrubs blooming thus early in the year, and is 

 very effective grown in beds. There is a beautiful 

 variety with rose-pink flowers known as M. stellata rosea. 

 M. Watsoni is a desirable Japanese species, it attains a 

 height of about six feet, and bears at the tips of the 

 young branches in June cream-white flowers, which are 

 about six inches in diameter and highly fragrant. 



PHILADELPHIA OR MOCK ORANGES. The species and 

 varieties of Philadelphus constitute a group of shrubs of 

 immense value. They are all of moderate growth, 

 elegant in character and free in blooming, and the 

 flowers are produced during the summer months when 

 there are but few ^hardy shrubs in bloom. They all 

 thrive in any ordinary garden soil and require but little 

 assistance from manurial matter, a top dressing of well- 

 rotted stable or farmyard manure every second or third 



