390 



GENERAL REVIEW. 



Liriodendron (Tulip-tree]. Only one species is known in 

 this genus, this being a native of North America, and common 

 in our gardens. L. tulipifera forms a tree forty or fifty feet 

 high, and is easily recognised by its curious saddle-shaped foli- 

 age. Its cup-shaped red and yellow or greenish flowers are 

 produced in the summer months. Imported seed grows freely 

 sown in the spring, either in a cold frame or in sheltered nur- 

 sery beds. L. tulipifera, var. obtusifolia, bears larger flowers 

 than the type, and may be propagated by grafting, as in Mag- 

 nolia. The Tulip-tree rarely ripens its seeds in this country ; 

 but if seeds cannot be obtained, hillock-layering may be resorted 

 to, as in Magnolia. 



Magnolia. A well-known genus of highly ornate deciduous 

 or evergreen flowering trees and shrubs, many of them, as M. 



Entire flower of Magnolia grand/flora. 



Magnolia grandiflora, 

 L. Mass of pistils or 

 carpels of pistils. 



grandiflora and its varieties, M. glauca, M. purpurea, and 

 others, being quite hardy in this country, and admirably 

 adapted for sunny walls. All the species are readily increased 

 by imported seeds, which ripen well in Italian, Spanish, and 

 even French gardens, but rarely in this country, except on very 

 warm soils, . artificial fertilisation being advisable in order to 

 induce the fruit to set well. M. conspicua ripened its seeds in 

 1871 at Carclew, Cornwall. Seeds should be sown in shallow 

 boxes of light rich earth in the spring, and placed on a genial 

 bottom-heat of 60 to 70 : they germinate well, although rather 

 irregularly. Hillock-layering is employed, and with M. gran- 

 diflora and other strong-growing kinds it is successful ; and the 

 plants so obtained do not grow so grossly, and bloom earlier 



