THE ROMANCE OF OUR TREES 



wise the American species except the noble evergreen 

 M. grandiflora and the dwarf M. pyramidata. None 

 of the Himalayan nor the Malayan species can be 

 grown out of doors in New England, and of the 

 Chinese two species only. Yet these two with their 

 numerous forms and hybrids are, with the Japanese 

 M. stellata, the familiar Magnolias of our gardens. 



In our second chapter the Magnolia is mentioned 

 among the types of trees which in earlier geological 

 ages were found widespread in north temperate re- 

 gions. It is, in fact, an ancient type, and its mem- 

 bers to-day are a mere remnant of a very extensive 

 group of north temperate forest trees which formerly 

 grew in Europe, Siberia, western North America, 

 Canada, and Greenland. Though much less ancient 

 than the Ginkgo, the Magnolias had in early times a 

 similar distribution and fossil remains are common 

 in Tertiary lands of the Northern Hemisphere. 



I hope readers will not tire of these historical facts 

 which are necessary to the proper appreciation of the 

 types here selected. I do not wish them to be deemed 

 "dry-as-dust" facts, but tangible proofs of the ven- 

 erable character and of added interest to whatever 

 appreciation we may hold these trees in. I want 

 readers to look upon these types as examples of forest 

 growth that have long and nobly played their part 

 in the world's history, and to think of them as we do 

 i34 



