THE MAGNOLIAS 



are small, cup-shaped, creamy white, gradually ac- 

 quiring a pale apricot hue, and are delightfully fra- 

 grant, scenting the whole neighbourhood. They 

 continue to open in succession from about mid-June 

 until August when the red fruit cones begin to show 

 in marked contrast against the dark, glossy green 

 foliage. The roots yield a yellow dye. According 

 to Emerson, the plant affords a good tonic and warm 

 stimulant, and it was formerly used with great success 

 in chronic rheumatism, in intermittent fevers, and 

 particularly in fever and ague. The Sweet Bay 

 grows wild in swamps, and is found in Essex County, 

 Mass., and from Queens County, Long Island, to 

 Louisiana and eastern Texas. There is not a 

 more delightful North American shrub to plant in 

 gardens, not one that will give larger returns in 

 beauty and fragrance. It is an old garden plant, hav- 

 ing been discovered and introduced into Europe before 

 the 17th century, yet it is unknown to most American 

 planters of this generation. In eastern Florida there 

 is said to grow a dwarf form (var. pumila) which 

 does not exceed 3 or 4 feet in height. A hybrid 

 (A/, major, better known as M. Thomsoniana) be- 

 tween the Sweet Bay and the Umbrella-tree (M. 

 tripetala) has the general appearance of M. virgini- 

 ana, but has larger leaves and larger flowers. 



The most stately of the hardy American Magnolias 

 '37 



