658 



MAGNOLIA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



MAGNOLIA. 



tresses on extra high walls also affording a 

 good shelter. The best instance of what can 

 be done in the way of clothing extra high 

 yet sheltered walls with evergreen mag- 

 nolias is to be seen at Canford Manor, 

 Wimborne, Dorset, while there are also 

 several fine specimens against high walls 

 at Ashton Court, near Bristol. It is quite 

 useless to plant them in a tiny hole, but 

 the site should be well prepared by 

 trenching or forking peat and leaf soil 

 freely into common garden soil, or, better 

 still, fresh loam, a space not less than 3 ft. 

 by 30 in. being prepared for each tree. 

 Once the trees have attained a good size, 

 no further trouble need be taken with the 

 roots, as they are quite capable of foraging 

 for themselves. In planting, it is advis- 



charcoal made from it is used for polish- 

 ing lac. In the southern part of Yesso it 

 is abundant in the forests, and forms fine 

 trees 60 ft. or more in height, with a trunk 

 diameter of 2 ft. The leaves are i ft. or 

 more long, and 6 or 7 in. wide, dark green 

 and smooth above, and clothed with 

 white hairs beneath. The flowers are 

 creamy-white in colour, deliciously fra- 

 grant, and when fully expanded measure 

 6 or 7 in. across, the brilliant scarlet fila- 

 ments forming a striking contrast to the 

 petals. There are no large specimens 

 as yet in this country, but as the species 

 thrives well in the north-eastern United 

 States, it is fair to assume that it will do 

 well in Britain. 



M. Kobus, a Japanese species, grown 



Magnolia stellata. 



able to moisten and then slightly loosen 

 the ball of soil, some of the roots being 

 spread out. During the first summer the 

 soil about the roots should be examined 

 occasionally and watered thoroughly when 

 dry. The tops branch naturally, and all 

 that need be done is to spread them out 

 thinly, and to keep the growths secured 

 to the walls or trellis. In after years the 

 strongest branches will require to be kept 

 to the walls by means of strips of leather 

 and strong nails, the side shoots being 

 tied to these with osier twigs. They ought 

 not to be very closely trained, or so much 

 so as to present a painfully neat appear- 

 ance, but if the branches or shoots are 

 left too long the strong winds may break 

 them off." 



M. hypoleuca. This is the wood 

 commonly used by the Japanese in the 

 manufacture of objects to be lacquered; 

 it is preferred for sword sheaths, and the 



in the United States under the name of 

 M. Thurberi. It is hardy in the south of 

 England, having been grown outside for 

 several years at Kew. The leaves are 

 6 or 7 in. long by about half as much in 

 width, the flowers 4 to 5 in. in diameter, 

 creamy-white. Professor Sargent, who 

 found the species growing in the forests 

 of Hokkaido, in Japan, describes it as a 

 tree 70 to 80 ft. high, with a tall straight 

 trunk 2 ft. in diameter. He says the 

 flowers appear before the leaves, about 

 the middle of May. 



M. macrophylla. This, unfortunately 

 somewhat tender in a young state, is worth 

 growing simply for its beautiful leaves, 

 which are green above and clothed with 

 white hairs beneath, and attain a length 

 of upwards of 3 ft. The open bell-shaped 

 fragrant flowers are white with a purple 

 blotch at the base of the inner petals, 

 and measure 8 or 10 in. across. It is a 



