66 MAGNOLIA 



at Montpelier, who died in 1715. The species in cultivation come from 

 two widely separate areas, one group being native of the eastern United 

 States, the other and larger one native of India, China, and Japan. Out- 

 lying members of each group occur in Mexico and Malaya. In one 

 respect Magnolias are the most splendid of all hardy trees, for in the size 

 of their individual flowers they are easily first ; the evergreen species, too, 

 have about the largest leaves of all evergreen trees hardy with us. The 

 flowers are produced singly at the end of a shoot, the calyx consisting 

 of three sepals, the corolla of usually six or nine, sometimes fifteen or 

 eighteen, petals. The fruit is more or less cone-shaped, and, like the 

 seeds, often richly coloured. The young branches are very pithy ; the 

 leaves alternate and always entire. In most of the species, the bark when 

 crushed emits a pleasant aromatic odour, and some of the American 

 species, as well as the Chinese M. hypoleuca, have medicinal properties. 



Perhaps no group of exotic trees gives more distinction to a 

 garden than a complete collection of Magnolias. There is not one 

 that is not worthy of cultivation, the early-flowering or Yulan section 

 being especially noteworthy for the brilliant effect they produce in 

 spring. 



The only difficulty experienced in cultivating these trees is in 

 establishing some of them after transplanting. The roots are thick 

 and fleshy, and apt to decay if disturbed and lacerated when the trees 

 themselves are at rest. Any planting, therefore, which involves root 

 injury should be done when active growth has commenced, so that the 

 wounds may heal and new roots be formed immediately. May is a 

 suitable month. The more delicate-rooted species like parviflora and 

 stellata undoubtedly like a proportion of peat in the soil, more especially 

 when they are young. But for the strong-growing sorts like Soulangiana, 

 tripetala, acuminata, etc., a good loam is very suitable. All of them like 

 abundant moisture, and where the soil is shallow and poor, holes 18 ins. 

 deep and 2 to 4 yards in diameter should be prepared by mixing good 

 loam, and if possible one-fourth peat and decayed leaves with the 

 ordinary soil. The dimensions of the prepared 'ground should, of course, 

 be proportionate to the vigour of the species. In most gardens the 

 ordinary soil, well trenched and improved by adding decayed leaves, 

 will be found suitable, but for such delightful plants as these a little 

 extra labour and expense at the outset will be repaid. 



Magnolias are propagated by seed, layering, and grafting. For the 

 pure species, seeds no doubt are preferable, but their production in this 

 country is uncertain, and it has to be remembered that being of an oily 

 nature they retain their vitality but a short time. It is advisable to sow 

 them singly in small pots of light soil under glass. Layering is a very 

 useful means of increase ; it is now much practised in the great Dutch 

 nurseries, whence Magnolias are sent to England every year in large 

 quantities for forcing. Where layering is inconvenient or impossible, 

 grafting will have to be employed. One of the best -stocks is the 

 American M. acuminata. For M. stellata the Japanese gardeners use 

 M. Kobus as a stock, and for M. Watsoni they use stocks of M. hypo- 

 leuca. But grafting should be the last resource. 



