LARGE-FLOWERED MAGNOLIA. 5 
"Gardeners' Magazine," vol. xi., it was introduced at Macao by a Mr. Livingston, 
previously to 1S30; and the Magnolia acuminata, glauca, and umbrella, soon 
afterwards. 
Soil and Situation. The Magnolia grandiflora, in its natural habitat, grows 
in cool and shady places, where the soil, composed of brown mould, is deep, 
loose, and fertile. These tracts lie contiguous to the great swamps which are 
found on the borders of the rivers of the south, and in the midst of the pine-bar- 
rens. In Europe and the northern parts of the United States, a deep sandy 
loam, dry at the bottom, and enriched with vegetable mould, seems to suit all 
the varieties of the species. 
The situation, in the colder parts of Europe and America, may be exposed to 
the direct influence of the mid-day sun ; but in southern Europe, and its native 
climate, it always thrives best when in the shade of other trees, and requires a 
moister soil. In general, where the fig-tree will grow as a standard, and 
survive the winter without protection, there the Magnolia grandiflora may be 
planted, and treated as a standard also. Perhaps the finest situation for display- 
ing the flowers of this tree, as a standard in a northern climate, would be a 
sloping bank of sandy soil facing the south-east. Here it might be mixed with 
a few of the deciduous magnolias, and particularly with the Magnolia con- 
spicua soulangeana, which flowers before the leaves come out, and would be set 
off to great advantage by its green leaves. 
Propagation and Management. The Magnolia grandiflora may be raised 
from the seed ; but, as plants so originated do not flower for twenty or thirty years 
after being planted out, it is preferable to have those which have been propagated 
by layers from flowering trees of choice varieties. When propagated by layers, 
the shoots are put down in autumn, and require two years to become sufficiently 
rooted for separation. They are then potted, and kept in pits, or under glass, 
where the climate requires it to be protected, or set in the open air, in a shady 
place, if the climate is too hot, till wanted for final planting. It is not recom- 
mended in any case whatever to purchase any species of magnolia for planting 
not grown in a pot ; because plants so grown may be sent to any distance without 
injury to the roots, which are few and succulent, and easily damaged by expos- 
ure to air and light. In planting, the ball should be carefully broken by the hand, 
and the roots spread out in every direction, and covered with a mixture of leaf 
mould and sandy loam. The soil ought to be made firm to the fibrous roots, not 
by treading, but by abundant watering, and, if the plant be large, by fixing with 
water ; that is, while the earth is being carefully put about the roots by one man, 
another should pour water over it from a pot held six or eight feet above it, 
so that the weight of the water may wash the soil into every crevice formed by 
the roots. Shading will be advisable for some weeks, or even months after 
planting. If the plant is intended to form a handsome tree as a standard, it 
should not only have a sufficient depth of suitable soil, but should be pruned to 
a single stem for at least three or four feet from the ground, to direct the growth 
of the head. If the plant does not grow freely after it has been three or four years 
planted, it ought to be bent down to the ground, and kept in that position until 
it throws up one strong shoot from the collar. The old stem should then be cut 
away, leaving only the new shoot ; and this shoot, which will probably extend 
three or four feet the first season, will soon form a handsome tree. If the Exmouth 
variety (M. g. exoniensis) of this species be made choice of, layers will produce 
flowers in a year or two after being separated from the parent plant, if kept in 
pots; but, when they are planted out, and grow freely, so as to make shoots two 
or three feet each season, they will probably not flower for three or four years. 
In whatever manner this tree be treated, all the pruning it will require, after it has 
begun to grow freely, will be to cut out the stumps from which the flowers or 
