ACACIA DIFFUSA — BERBERIS PALLIDA. 



319 



to eight inches in diameter, and composed of three 

 large, loose petals. The chief beauty of this species 

 consists in its magnificent foliage, the most tropical 

 ^\e, excepting the M. macrophytla, of all our hardy 

 trees. There is also a certain beauty in its large 

 flonprs, and m the fruit, which is in the tbrm of a pine 

 cone n\c or si.x inches long, and two or three in di- 

 ameter. The li^.., however, in its form has little ele- 

 gance, often m-chnmg tu one side and throwing up a 

 succession of vigorous show, fro--.i the lower part, 

 A specimen nine or ten years plairt«<]_ jq our grounds, 

 has divided near the ground into thretmain branches. 

 These divide again further up. The mam Viranches 

 are about three to four inches in diameter, and the 

 whole ten feet high. It has blossomed for several 

 years. It blossoms young, seeds freely, and is usa- 

 ally propagated and managed as described for the 

 acumitiata. 



The Magnolia macrophylla, or liroad-leaved, is a 

 very striking and beautiful ti-ee, an<l the rarest of all 

 the deciduous American .species. It is distinguished 

 at once from the preceding by its large leaves — which 

 are light green above and glaucous beneath, — its light 

 grayish bark, and silky buds. It is propagated a? 

 the two preceding, from seeds; but they are dilFicult 

 to get. 



The cordata, or heart-leaved, is also a fine species 

 from Carolina or Georgia, with flowers of a yellowish 

 tinge, produced twice during the season. Hardy in 

 the Middle States. 



The uuriculaia, or long-leaved, resembles the acu- 

 minata; but it does not attain so large a size, and is 

 distinguished by the leaves being distinctly lobed at 

 the base. The flowers are white. 



The conspicua, or chandelier magnolia, is a beauti- 

 ful Chinese species, quite hardy in the Middle States, 

 and regarded as one of the most charming of small 

 sized lawn trees. It branches low, and forms a sym- 

 metrical half shrub half tree, covered in spring before 

 the leaves, with milk white flowers. One of the finest 

 specimens we have seen in this country, is that on the 

 grounds of the late Mr. Downing. It is propagated 

 from seeds, but more generally by layers which re- 

 quire two years to root; or by grafting or inarching 

 on some plentiful sort. 



The ohovata, or purpurea, another Chinese species, 

 is necessarily classed among shrubs, as it seldom at- 

 tains over ten feet in height, and not often that. It 

 bears its flowers, which are purple on a light ground, 

 before the leaves in the spring, and is at that season 

 highly attractive. It is easier propagated from lay- 

 ers than the conspicua, and is therefore usually more 

 plentiful and cheaper in the nurseries. 



The sovlaiigeana, is a variety produced by eross- 



g the two preceding. It resembles the conspicua, 

 but differs in having the flowers tinged with purple. 

 It is a hardy, profuse blooming, beautiful small tree. 

 Propagated generally by grafting or inarching. 



The gracilis is a slender, erect growing shrub, re- 

 ^emViIing the purpurea, differing particularly in the 

 branches being more erect and slender. 



'Ihe glauca, or swamp laurel, which abounds in 

 New Jersey, and in low, swampy grounds further 

 south, is a very pretty small tree, with glaucous leaves 

 and white, sweet scented flowers. It does not suc- 

 ceed so well in dry exposed places as those previ- 



ously mentioned, but its great beauty entitles it to 

 some extra care hi the way of soil, shade and shelter. 

 There are many varieties which have sprung up 

 accidentally from seeds, both of the American and 

 Chinese species, but they difler only in some minor 

 points from those described. — Horticnllurisl. 



ACACIA DIFFUSA. 



Acacia diffusa, Ker. — Legvminacce. (Paxt. Fl. 

 Gard.) — A handsome and profuse flowering green- 

 house shrub, with balls of bright yellow flowers, which 

 appear in winter, and short, narrow, spine-pointed 

 phyllodcs or leaves, at the base of which a small oval 

 gland sometimes (not always) appears. Native of 

 Van Pieman's Land, where it is very common. It 

 differs from Jl. sHiculcsformis of Cunningham in being 

 altogether much larger, the phyllodes in particular 

 being as large again, and becoming wrinkled when 

 diy or old. (Syn. A. prostrata, Lodd. in Bat. Cab.) 



BEEBERI.S PALLIDA. 



Berberis PALLIDA, Bcuth. — Bcrheridacie. ( Paxt. 

 Fl. Gard.) — A beautiful evergreen shrub, growing 

 from five to six feet high, and requiring the shelter 

 of a green-house during winter. The flowers, which 

 appear in early spring, are yellow. In the autumn 

 its large loose panicles of deep purple glaucous acid 

 berries give it a very ornamental appearance. It is 

 very graceful in habit, but its pallid flowers are not 

 produced iu great profusion. It is a native of Mexi- 

 co, where it occurs but sparingly. 



