MAGNOLIA 



cone-shaped fruits are often pink or scarlet and very 

 ducoralive. Most of the deciduous species are fairly 

 hardy, at least in sheltered positions, as far north as 

 northern N.Y. and Mass., and M.ticiiiiihiata, Kohiis and 

 Klillata even farther north, while M. CamphvUi is the 

 most tender. Of the evergreen species, M. (jraiKli flora, 

 one of the most beautiful native trees, is precariously 

 hardy north to Philadelphia. The Asiatic deciduous 

 species are among the most showy and striking of the 

 early-flowering trees and shrubs; the earliest is the 

 shrubby J/'. i'/eHato, blooming in mild climates in Marc h, 

 and after this M. I'xlan comes in bloom, closely tol 

 lowed by 31. Soulangeaiia and after this J/. o6or«fa. The 

 handsomest of the deciduous species is probably M hi/ 

 /inlrKCii, with the very large leaves silvery white below 

 and with showy, sweet-scented flowers; also the Amen 

 can M. macrojiliylla and tripetala are conspicuous b\ 

 their very large foliage. The Magnolias are 

 usually planted as single specimens on the 

 lawn, and there are, perhaps, no plants more 

 striking against a background of dark green 

 conifers. Some species, as M.grniHUnora in 

 the South and M. acuminata farther north, 

 are line avenue trees. The Magnolias thrive 

 best in somewhat rich, moderately moist and 

 porous soil, preferring sandy or peaty loam, 

 but some kinds which usually grow naturally 

 on the borders of swamps, as M. (jlaiica, 

 tiirive as well in moist and swampy situa- 

 tions. Transplanting is difficult and is most 

 successfully performed just when the new 

 growth is starting. Prop, by seeds sown im- 

 mediately or stratified, and by layers of last 

 year's growth put down in spring and tongned 

 or notched. Layers are usually severed and 

 transplanted the following spring, but as 

 many of them die after transplanting, it is a 

 safer way to take them off early in July, when i^ 

 the new growth has ripened, plant them in "^ 

 pots and keep in a close frame until they are 

 established. Varieties and rarer kinds are 

 often veneer- or side-grafted in early spring 

 or summer on potted stock in the greenhouse 

 or frame; as a stock M. tripetala is perhaps 

 the best, on account of its better fibrous roots, which 

 render transplanting safer, but M. aciiininata is al^o a 

 good stock Sometimes increased by greenwood cut 

 tings taken with a heel and handled under glass. 



Abont 20 species in N. America, south to Mi 

 Himalayas and E. Asia. Trees and shrubs, with rather 

 stout branches marked with conspicuous leaf-scars; 

 stipules usually adnate to the petiole and inclosing the 

 young successive leaf: fls. terminal, solitary, the buds 

 inclosed in a stipular spathe; sepals 3, often petaloid; 

 petals 6-15; stamens and carpels numerous, the latter 

 connate into a spindle, developing into a cone-like some- 

 what fleshy or leathery fr. , with dehiscent, 1-2-seeded 

 carpels; the large, usually scarlet seeds often suspen- 

 ded for a time from the fr. by thin threads. The wood 

 is close-grained, usually light and satiny, but not dur- 

 able; that of J)/. hiipoleuca is much used in Japan for 

 laquered ware; the bark and fr. of some species have 

 been used medicinally as a tonic and stimulant. 



Alfred Rehder. 

 Among the finest Magnolias cultivated in the South are 

 the two native evergreen species M. grandiftora and 

 M. glaiica, and the exotics M. piimila and fuscata, the 

 last being now referred to Michelia. Magnolia grandi- 

 flora is a noble tree. It is a native of the middle and 

 southern sections of Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, 

 Louisiana and the upper districts of Florida, and is 

 recognized as one of the grandest of all broad-leaved 

 evergreen trees. In its native habitat it attains a 

 height of from 75 to 100 feet, with very large, oval or 

 lanceolate coriaceous leaves. The latter vary, however, 

 from very broad to rather narrow, some with a rusty 

 tinder surface, others quite smooth. The flowers vary 

 also in size, the largest frequently measuring 10-12 in. 

 in diameter when fully expanded; others do not attain 

 more than half that size. They appear early in May. 

 in some sections during the latter part of April, and 

 continue until the end of June. Some trees produce 

 a few flowers during August, and even as late as Octo- 



MAGNOLIA 



965 



her, but these are exceptions. Each flower lasts from 

 2-4 days, when the petals fall and the cone-like fruit 

 appears. This gradually increases in size until Sep- 

 tember, when the bright coral-red seeds are detached 

 and hang on long filaments. The seed should be 

 gathered when fully ripe, put in dry sand until Febru- 

 ary in the S., then in moist sand for a week or 10 days, 

 when the resinous cuticle can be removed by washing. 



1345. Maenolia Yulan (X M). 

 Commonly known as M. conspicua. 



Sow the cleaned seed in a box or coldfranie, and as the 

 plants show their second leaves pot off in small pots. 

 In July, give a larger-sized pot, and the plants will be 

 sufficiently large to plant in permanent place during 

 the following autumn or winter. It is always advisable 

 to take pot-grown plants, as they succeed better than 

 plants taken up with bare roots. Magnolias are vora- 

 cious feeders, and require rich soil and an abundance 

 of plant-food. Their roots extend to a great length, 

 and to bring out the stately beauty of this tree they 

 should be given ample space. The wood is white, and 

 valued for cabinet work. There are many forms culti- 

 vated in European nurseries, their main characteristics 

 being in the size and form of the leaves and size of 

 flowers. They are propagated by grafting, either by in- 

 arching or cleft- or tongue-graft. The latter should be 

 done under glass, taking 2-year-old pot-grown seed- 

 lings. The fragrance of the flowers varies also, some 

 flowers being more pungent than others, but, as a rule, 

 the fragrance is pleasant. The principal varieties are 

 M. grandiftora var. gloriosa, with fls. often measuring 

 14 in. in diameter; foliage broad and massive, brown on 

 under surface. Seldom grows beyond 18-25 ft. Var. 

 prtreoj-, or early-flowering. Var. rotiindifulia, with very- 

 dark green roundish Ivs., rusty underneath. 



Maijiiolia glaiica, the Sweet Bay, is an evergreen 

 tree in the southern states, becoming deciduous north- 

 ward. It attains a height of 30 ft. in rich bottoms or- 

 swampy lands: Ivs. oval, long or elliptical, with a glau- 

 cous niider surface: fls. white. 3-4 in. in diameter, very 

 fragrant, and produced from May to July. This tree is 



