426 



and beauty among the smaller blossoms of the more com- 

 mon trees and shrubs that blossom at that early time, and 

 really fill the beholder with delight. The Chinese White 

 Magnolia {M. eo?isplcua,) is, in- effect of its blossoms, the 

 most charming of all Magnolias. The flowers, in color a 

 pure, creamy Avhite, are produced in such abundance, that 

 the tree, when pretty large, may be seen at a great dis- 

 tance. 



" The Chinese name, Gulan, literally, Lily-tree^ is an 

 apt and expressive one, as the blossoms are not much un- 

 like those of the White Lily in size and shape, when fully 

 expanded. Among the Chinese poets, they are consid- 

 ered the emblem of candor and beauty." 



"The next most ornamental Chinese Magnolia," he 

 says, " is Soulange's Purple, {^Magnolia Soulangiana.) This 

 is a hybrid seedling, raised by the late Chevalier Soulange 

 Bodin, the distinguished French horticulturist. The hab- 

 it of the tree is closely similar to that of the consplciia y 

 its blossoms, equally numerous, are rather larger, but the 

 outside of the petals is finely tinged with purple. It par- 

 takes of the character of both its parents, having the 

 growth of Magnolia conspicua^ and the color of M. pur- 

 purea^ (or, indeed, a lighter shade of purple.) Its term 

 of blooming is, also, mid-way between that of these two 

 species, being about a week later than that of the white, 

 or Gulan Magnolia. It is also perfectly hardy in this lati- 

 tude." The Magnolia purpurea is sometimes seen in 

 large gardens about Boston, but is a little tender. " It is 

 a shrub of six to eight feet high. The blossoms are white 

 within, of a fine dark-lilac or purj^le on the outside, and 

 (piite fragrant, like the others." The flowers begin to 

 open early in May, and continue blooming a number of 

 weeks, or, if in the shade, through most of the summe**. 



The same gentleman remarks, that, "If these noble 

 flowering trees have a defect, it is onc^ which is insei)ar- 



