332 Some account of the Magnolia macrophylla. 



Art. hi. Some account of the MagnoUdL macrophylla, its 

 discovery in a new locality, together with a notice of the 

 JSIursery of Jf. W. Hatchj Vicksburg, J\Iiss. By Alex- 

 ander Gordon. 



Dear Sir: — Well aware that every circumstance connect- 

 ed with horticulture or botany, which has a tendency to ad- 

 vance their interest, will readily find a place in your very 

 useful and interesting periodical, 1 hasten to acquaint you 

 that the only known locality of the justly admired JNiagnolia 

 macrophylla is no longer confined to Lincoln county, N. C; 

 for within these few days past, 1 have seen it in this State, 

 where I have every reason to think it prevails to a considera- 

 ble extent, having seen it at two difierent places, nearly sev- 

 enty miles apart. 



1 never had, until this time, seen this magnificent ornament 

 of the American forest displaying its gigantic foliage in its 

 native wilds, and I am free to confess it aroused feelings of 

 admiration more easily conceived than described. Mr. Down- 

 ing, in his very excellent work on Landscape Gardening and 

 Rural Jirchilecture, has given a most accurate description of 

 this species, as I found it, with the exception of the size of 

 the leaves, which in width is more than double the size JNIr. 

 Downing has allowed it; but I must confess this was only the 

 case on the shoots of young very healthy plants. 



Having frequently heard several nurserymen at the north 

 express great anxiety to possess seeds or young plants of the 

 M. macrophylla, it must be gratifying to them to know that 

 they can most readily obtain either, as N. W. Hatch, Esq., 

 Vicksburg, in this State, informs me he will collect both 

 seeds and young plants this fall, to supply such orders as he 

 m,ay receive; so the fault must now rest with the northern 

 nurserymen, if this splendid species does not soon become 

 freely and widely disseminated. But I must not conclude 

 without giving a passing notice in respect to JNlr. Hatch's 

 nursery. 



Mr. Hatch has, for some years, been engaged in the nursery 

 business, in the immediate vicinity of Vicksburg. The col- 

 lection of choice exotics embraces many of the most desir- 

 able plants in cultivation. The Geranidcece is very select. 

 The rosarium enumerates about one hundred and fifty varieties 



