254 IN A GLOUCESTERSHIRE GARDEN 



some for a lawn. But of all exotic flowering trees 

 there are none to equal the magnolias. We generally 

 grow them as shrubs, or against a wall, but in many 

 places they will grow, and not at all slowly, into fine 

 trees. I remember one magnificent magnolia (I believe 

 M. grandiflora) standing alone, and as large as a fine 

 elm, near the old Roman Villa at Brading, in the 

 Isle of Wight. This may be considered a favourable 

 spot, but at Edgbaston Botanic Gardens, near Birming- 

 ham, which are in a very exposed and cold situation, 

 there are some grand magnolias which may well take 

 rank as forest trees. They are not the large-flowered 

 species {M. grandiflora), but M. acuminata, M. macro- 

 phylla, M. auriculata, and M. purpurea, and the finest 

 specimen of 3£. acuminata is nearly 50 ft. high, and 

 35 ft. through. The tulip-tree {Liriodendron tulipi- 

 fera), from North America, is botanically closely allied 

 to the magnolia, and is a most excellent lawn tree. Its 

 large, quaintly shaped leaves, which in autumn turn to 

 a rich yellow and brown, and its handsome, sweet- 

 scented flowers, make it very attractive ; it is also a 

 rapid grower, and there are many trees in England 

 from 100 ft. to 140 ft. high. The Catalpa si/ringcefolia 

 is another beautiful tree for a lawn, allied to the big- 

 nonia, but with trusses of beautiful white and purple 

 flowers, which are unlike any other flower. The draw- 



