68 MAGNOLIA 



Native of China ; introduced in 1789. One of the most beautiful and 

 striking of all flowering trees, this Magnolia is, unfortunately, an occasional 

 victim to the inclemency of an English spring. Its flowers respond quickly 

 to premature warmth in late February or March, only too often to be trapped 

 by succeeding frost. A cold February and March suits it best. It never 

 fails to set an abundance of blossom, and the white flowers gleaming in the 

 sunshine of an early spring day render it the most conspicuous of all trees at 

 that season. It was for long an uncommon tree, the most famous specimens 

 being at Kew, Syon, and Gunnersbury House. It is now propagated in the 

 Dutch nurseries by grafting on M. Soulangiana, and sold cheaply for forcing 

 early into flower. By the Chinese the yulan has been cultivated for at least 

 thirteen hundred years, especially near temples and in the Imperial gardens. 



M. CORDATA, Michaux. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 325 ; M. acuminata var. cordata, Sargenl?) 



Although this Magnolia is said to have been found by the elder Michaux 

 growing near rivers in Georgia, its exact counterpart, according to Sargent, 

 is not now known in a wild state. Sargent regards it as a variety of M, 



MAGNOLIA CONSPICUA. 



acuminata, from the typical form of which it is very distinct. The leaves are 

 3 to 5 ins. long, comparatively broader and less pointed than those of 

 M. acuminata, but rarely cordate as the name implies. The flowers are 

 faintly and not agreeably scented, canary yellow ; petals i^ to 2 ins. long. 

 Compared with the free-growing M. acuminata, of which it may be a high 

 mountain form, it is a low, stunted tree. At Kew, where M. acuminata 

 succeeds, exceptionally well, a tree of M. cordata fifty years old is only 15 ft. 

 high, and others only 3 or 4 ft. high flower abundantly., In beauty of blossom 

 it is superior to its ally. Introduced in 1801. 



M. DELAVAYI, Franchet. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 8282.) 



A spreading, flat-topped, evergreen tree, up to 30 ft. high. Leaves 8 to 14 

 ins. long, 5 to 8 ins. wide ; greyish dull green above, glaucous and with fine 



