GARDEN FLOWERS. 245 



of evergreens, others deciduous, and all beautiful as flower- 

 ing plants. The soil for these plants should be deep and 

 good, of open texture, neither subject to parching, nor liable 

 to excessive wet at any season. The Magnolias all grow 

 finely in peat earth ; but this is not essential to them. They 

 are greatly benefited, however, when planted in a young 

 state, by having a bushel or so of good compost placed 

 about their roots : this compost may be of equal parts light 

 turfy loam and peat. Layering* is the most usual mode of 

 propagating the Magnolia, the layers being put down in au- 

 tumn, and requiring a couple of seasons to get well estab- 

 lished. Many of the species do not transplant well, except 

 when quite young, unless they are kept in pots : on this ac- 

 count, it is usual to keep them in pots ; but when this has 

 been the case, the roots must be carefully uncoiled, and 

 spread out in straight lines, when they are permanently 

 planted. Seeds may be often obtained ; and the plants 

 raised from them are the most vigorous, but do not blossom 

 so early. They should be sown in sandy loam, placed in a 

 warm frame, potted as they appear, and kept for several 

 years in a cold pit during winter until they get well estab- 

 lished. The arboreous species are only suited for large gar- 

 dens. M. gfandiflora, and its varieties, are evergreen trees, 

 which should find a place in every garden. Wherever there 

 is a shrubbery, or a clump of peat-earth shrubs, one or two 

 of the hardy deciduous species should also be grown for 

 their large fragrant blossoms in the early spring months. 

 M. fuscata, a small evergreen, something like a camellia in 

 its foliage, is a greenhouse plant, and in May bears blossoms 

 exquisitely fragrant, though not very conspicuous. This 

 should be potted in turfy loam and peat, and is increased 

 by grafting, or inarching on the commoner kinds, as M. 

 obovata, which mode of propagation is also resorted to with 

 the other weaker and more tender kinds. 



