THE TAMARISK. 37 



as it is to any house wall. I would decidedly recom- 

 mend it to all parties to plant on the south side of the 

 house, and to train it on the wall quite thick, where it 

 will present a most pleasing appearance, both in its 

 lara-e Laurel-like leaves and in its fragrant and noble 

 cup-shaped pure white flowers, which are as large as a 

 cup. 



In planting this, it is necessary to make a careful 

 preparation if the soil is not naturally of a sandy peat 

 or good sandy loam. A large hole should be dug out 

 and then filled in with peat — not bog earth, unless it 

 has been exposed to the influence of the dry air for 

 twelve months ; or, the hole may be filled with sandy 

 maiden loam and decayed leaf-mould and some pit-sand 

 well mixed. In either of these the Magnolia will 

 flourish. 



The propagation is by cuttings of the last year's 

 growth, taken off so as to secure a heel of the old 

 wood. These should be taken off in the early au- 

 tumn, as soon as the season's growth is ripened — the 

 end of September or October — and inserted in large 

 pots, 7 or 8-inch, filled with fine sandy peat, giving 

 a c^ood drainage. Put six or nine cuttings in each 

 pot ; let them be put into the pot half-way, close the 

 soil well, and water them, and set the pots in a mild 

 bottom heat. They are slow in emitting roots. The 

 Magnolia may be raised from seed sown in a brisk heat, 

 and it may also be grafted and had by layers. But as 

 the cuttings may be had freely and will strike surely, 

 that is all that is necessary for the propagation of the 

 Magnolias. 



The Tamarisk. 



These are all very peculiar shrubs, on account of 

 their finely-cut foliage, which gives them a great con- 

 trast to most others. Under careful management the 

 ^amarisk will present a very beautiful character, but if 

 left to chance it soon gets quite disagreeable in figure, 

 for it grows very fast, and soon becomes ugly, and even 

 an eyesore among other good shrubs. It forms a very 



