150 The American Flower Garden 



planted as far north as Massachusetts, some running even above 

 that. Excepting M. glauca, which thrives in swampy situations, 

 the whole family prefers sandy or peaty loam, moderately moist. 

 Transplanting is difficult on account of the thick, spongy roots, and 

 is to be done as growth starts. Propagation is by seeds or layers. 

 Plant with evergreens for background , CUCUMBER TREE 

 (Magnolia acuminatd). 60 to loo feet. Leaves slightly hairy, 

 light green beneath. Flowers greenish yellow; 3 inches across. 

 May, June. Fruit conical, pink. The hardiest species. Foliage 



yellow in the fall. The most inconspicuous in its flowers. , 



LARGE-LEAVED (M. macropbylla). 30 to 50 feet. Of slender 

 growth, making a broad, round head. Leaves up to 30 inches 

 long; bright green above, silvery white below. The flowers 10 to 

 12 inches across, white, with a purple centre. May, June. Highly 

 decorative with the cone-like fruit becoming bright red. Hardy 

 to Boston. The largest-leaved magnolia. Should be given a shel 

 tered position. , FRASER S (M. Fraseri}. 30 to 40 feet. Usually 

 with a leaning trunk. Flowers cream-white, 8 to 10 inches across. 

 June. Fruit rose red, 5 inches long. Distinguished by the peculiarly 



eared leaf. Almost as hardy as the cucumber tree. , GREAT 



LAUREL (M. foetid a). 50 to 80 feet. Leaves 5 to 8 inches 

 long, dull green. Flowers April to August. White, 6 to 8 inches 

 across. Cup-shaped, solitary. Hardy to Philadelphia. Cut 



branches used for winter decoration. , HALL S (M. stellata). See 



SHRUBS, p. 181. , SOULANGE S (M. Soulangeana). 30 feet. 



May. White-pink blossoms, six inches long, appearing before the 

 leaves. Plant against dark backgrounds; small specimens two to 

 three feet high will bloom. The largest-flowered, small hardy tree; 

 transplant only in spring. A number of garden hybrids of extreme 



beauty are allied to this. , SWAMP BAY (M. glauca). 50 to 75 



feet. Sometimes a shrub. Though evergreen in the South, deciduous 

 in the North. Leaves smooth, lustrous, bright green with silvery 

 lining. Flowers 2 to 3 inches across; creamy white, fragrant. 

 The best magnolia for general cultivation, thriving from New York 

 south. More floriferous when cut back and treated as a shrub. 



, YULAN (M. conspicud). 30 feet. White, fragrant flowers 



expanding to six inches. May. The largest white-flowered tree 

 that is hardy farther north than Long Island. 



