478 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



Magnolia Catnpbellii. — This is a large forest tree abound- 

 ing on the outer ranges of Sikkim, at elevations of 8 — 10,000 

 feet, appearing on the road above Pacheem, and thence as- 

 cending to the top of Sinchul 8000 feet, and Tonglo, 10,000 

 feet ; though occasionally seen on the central ranges at the 

 same elevations, it is much less frequent. The trunk is 

 straight, often 80 feet high, and 12 to 20 in girth, covered 

 with black bark. The flowers are produced abundantly in 

 April, at the end of all the branches, when the tree is as yet 

 perfectly leafless ; they vary from white to deep rose color or 

 utmost crimson, and hi size from (Mo 10 inches (in diameter). 

 In May the tree is in full leaf, and the fruit ripens in October, 

 when a few small and often deformed flowers are sometimes 

 produced. The branch represented by Mr. Fitch only bears 

 three flowers and a bud, and yet it is with difficulty included 

 within the space of 224 square inches. 



Meconopsis simplicifolia. — The most beautiful and con- 

 spicuous of all the Alpine flowers of Sikkim, if not of the 

 whole Himalaya ; common in rocky and gravelly places at 

 12,000 feet elevation and upwards, where it expands its large, 

 delicate, deep violet colored blossoms in May, exposed to the 

 violent winds and snow storms of those inhospitable regions. 

 It would be a most brilliant addition to out-of-door gardens, 

 where it " would no doubt succeed perfectly, provided it be 

 kept damp and cool, and not exposed to too long sunshine." 



Meconopsis Nepalensis. — Of this grand species we have 

 the following account : — " This superb plant, when seen from 

 a distance, resembles a small yellow hollyhock. It was dis- 

 covered by Dr. Wallich's collectors in Nepal, and I found it in 

 the damp interior valleys of Sikkim, growing amidst a rank 

 and luxuriant herbage, on the skirts of silver fir forests (Abies 

 Webbiana), at 10 — 11,000 feet above the level of the sea. 

 The accompanying figure is taken from a sketch of my own, 

 of a specimen that was five feet high." We need not say 

 that the two last plants are poppies, and no doubt cultivable 

 without difficulty. Let the reader imagine a mass composed 

 of the scarlet Papaver bracteatum or orientale, surrounded by 

 the golden bells of this Meconopsis nepalensis, and bordered 



