72 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Mar. 



THE MAGNOLIAS. 



P. Bakry, Esq. : — D.'ar Sir — I am liiglily pleased with the 

 article on Miignolias, m the January number of your paper. 

 1 had for some time irilendod to «rite to you for iiiforma- 

 tiun rospocling the propagation :m I culture of that interest- 

 ing family of tress. The Magnoha acuminata is indigenous 

 in ihi.s town, and wlien growing in open ground it forms a 

 beautiful tree, not surpa.ssed by any of our native forest trees. 

 I have frequently transplanted them from tlie woods, but 

 have never suoceedemn making one live. They appeared 

 to lloiirinh fur a time, but eventually, in spite of all the care 

 bestowed upon them, they invariably dwindled and died, 

 and wiihijut my being able to discover the reason why. Mr. 

 DavHi Thomas of Aurora, stated in the Genesee Farmer 

 several years ago, that he had been unsuccessful in cultiva- 

 ting the (ilanca and Tripetela, and that the plants when 

 young required protection in this latitude ; and at a still later 

 period he has said, that on a bed of sand brought more than 

 twenty miles, he had Magnolia Glanca growing in great 

 luxuriance ; all attempts to cultivate them in common garden 

 soil had lulled. Now 1 wish to be informed through the 

 columns of your paper, how to succeed in the cultivation 

 of the Magnolia.-j. What soil and situation do they require ? 

 Where ciin seeds of the difl'erent kinds be obtained that can 

 he depeiuled upon ? Anil how must I manage with tlie seed 

 to insure success ? I want all the information in full, neces- 

 sary to succeed with tlieae invaluable trees for ornamental 

 purposes. 



1 would like to know if your Taxodium Sempervireus is 

 the same kind with that mentiimed by De Candalle as 

 growing near Chapultepec in Mexico, (Cypresus disticha, 

 Liriu..) one hundred and seventeen feet in circumference, 

 and supposed to be several thousand years of age. (See 

 Sears' Wonders of the World, page 324, Art. Chestnut Tree 

 of Mount. -Etna.) 



Please answer in the March number of your paper. I 

 would like to know as early in the season as a correct judg- 

 ment can be formed how the new evergreens stand the 

 winter. Vonrs. &c., J. Elungwood. — GaiuesviUe, Wyn. 

 Cv., N. v., Feb'y, IS.M. 



The transplantation of the Magnolias from their 

 native situations in the woods, is exceedingly difficult 

 and very seldom attended with success ; and even 

 from nurseries they are more uncertain than most 

 other trees. The cliief reason is, that new roots are 

 emitted very slowly, and only when the trees have 

 not suflered exposure and are planted in a favorahle 

 situation. Trees taken from the woods have usually 

 tap roots only, and it is almost impossible to induce 

 in them the emission of fibres. It is the same, as 

 you are no doubt aware, with the Tulip tree, which 

 is closely allied to the Magnolia. 



The usual method employed by nurserymen to 

 raise seedling Magnolias, is to plant the seeds as 

 soon as ripe, in shallow boxes, say six to eight inches 

 deep, filled with about equal parts of sandy loam and 

 leal-mold. The seeds may be covered about one 

 inch deep. The bo.ves can be wintered in a cellar 

 free from vermin. Another way is, to put the seed 

 away as soon as gathered, in boxes of sand, and let 

 it remain there till spring, (in a cellar.) Then pre- 

 pare a spot of ground with compost such as we have 

 mentioned, and sow the seeds and cover with a com- 

 mon hot-bed frame. This affords means of protect- 

 ing the seedlings from the sun and wind, which often 

 kill them in the open ground just when vegetating. 

 Water can also be given, when necessary, in this 

 way. The fierce mid-day sun should not be permit- 

 ted to fall upon them. The first winter the young 

 jdants may bo protected with leaves, and in the spring 

 following transplanted into nursery rows. They 

 should have a deep, rich, sandy soil. We find no 

 difficulty in growing all the Magnolias here in com- 

 mon garden soil, when the plants are raised in this 

 way from seed. 



The Taxodium distichum, or Cypressus of Linn., 



alluded to, is a deciduous tree. The Taxodium 

 sempervireus is evergreen, as its specific name indi- 

 cates, — quite recently found in California — there 

 called "Red Wood." It attains an immense size. 

 We will report on the new evergreens at the 

 proper time. 



TREATMENT OF PEAR SEEDLINGS. 



Mr. Barry : — Having some pear seedlings of one year's 

 growth, with tap-roots from 9 to 18 inches in length, to 

 transplant next spring, I thought I would nsk thy advice 

 how best to do do it. Would thou recommend cutting olT 

 the tap-roots 7 (and if so, to what length ?) or would thou 

 prefer the method recommended in "Cole's American Frnit 

 Book," of turning these roots to one side in the manner of 

 planting a grape cutting 1 and in either or both cases, would 

 thou head back the tops? and if so, how much? (a) 



I would also ask how best to make and manage a hot- 

 bed for propagating sweet potato plants, and a garden-frame 

 for starting gooseberry, grape, and other cuttings, in the 

 spring ? (6) 



If thou wilt answer these inquiries through the nicdium 

 of the Genesee Farmer, thou wilt much oblige thy friend, 

 B. W. Steer. — Ra/sm. Mich., 1st mo., 1850. 



P. S. I cannot close this without alluding to the great 

 interest that is taken in horticulture in this section of the 

 country. I believe that Michigan is yet destined to equal, 

 if not surpass. Western New ^"ork in the production of tine 

 fruit. The variety, beauty, and excellence of the specimens 

 of apples, quinces, grapes, &:c., iScc, exhibited at Adrian 

 during the annual fair of the Lenawee County .-Vgricultural 

 and iTorticultural Society, would do honor to anv State in 

 the Union. B. W. S. 



(a) Our practice is to cut off the tap-roots at a 

 point where the size becomes very sensibly dimin- 

 ished, as in the cut. The stocks 

 are not only planted with greater 

 facility, but the omission of lat- 

 eral roots is favored. In the case 

 of seedling pears, the roots are 

 so large in proportion to the stem 

 that very sliglit amputations are 

 necessary to reduce them to a 

 balance with the roots. We can 

 give no precise rule, as it depends 

 entirely on the character and size 

 of the plant. Tall, slender plants 

 require more cutting back than 

 stout ones. Wo are not very 

 particular in the matter. Our 

 workmen usually take them up 

 in handfuls, and with two cuts 

 dress the roots and tops of a 

 dozen to twenty plants, or more. 

 as the size may permit. 



(6) A hot-bed frame is simply 

 a rectangular bo.v, of any sizR 

 you choose to make it. Inch 

 and a half or two inch board may 

 be employed in its construction. Pt,tr seetlling pruned 

 The back part should be about rfmlt/ for pinntmg. 

 double the height of the front. (See cut.) The 

 sashes are usually about three feet wide. The more 

 common size for a hot-bed is nine or ten feet long 

 and five wide, .'so that three sashes of three feet wide 

 and five feet long will cover it. But you will of 

 course adapt the size to your purpose. Light rafters 

 are placed across from back to front for the sashes to 

 rest on. For propacating sweet potatoe.-, or anything 

 else that needs artificial heat, a bed of niamire three 

 feet or so in depth is prepared, and lliis frame placed 

 upon it. Fresh stable manure that has been repeat- 

 edly turned over, is the best material. Dry leaves 



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