224 Tiie Mas'iioliacccz. 



Vb' 



THE MAGNOLIACE^. 



(Continued.) 



As the production of new and improved varieties of fruits and flowers 

 has become a systematized art, capable of unlimited extension, it is probable 

 that the time is not distant when the Afagnoliacecs will be submitted to its 

 operations. The certainty with which the glauca matures every seed of the 

 germs adapts it as a pistillate parent for that purpose. An application of 

 the pollen of the purpurea might develop a progeny with red or variegated 

 flowers. Increased size of flowers and foliage might be secured by the 

 pollen of the macrophylla, as has already been effected by a cross with the 

 tripetala, resulting in the production of the Thompsoniana. Interesting re- 

 sults might follow the fertilization of the glauca by the acuminata, and the 

 latter by the macrophylla. 



While pursuing this subject, it would be well to test by experiment the 

 effect of crossing the tender grandijlora with both the glauca and acumi- 

 tiata. The progeny between the tender rhododendrons of the Himalaya 

 Mountains and the hardy American species are in some instances sufficient- 

 ly hardy to bear the climate of Cleveland. One of them has stood fifteen 

 years on the north side of my residence, overlooking Lake Erie, and has 

 never received any protection during winter. It not only survives, but is 

 thrifty and healthy. May we not expect some of the progeny from the 

 crosses above suggested to be endowed with an equal degree of hardiness 

 with those hybrid rhododendrons ? 



4. M. LoNGiFOLiA. — This is a mere variety, resulting from breaking the 

 natural habit of the glauca, its parent. It originated in Belgium, and was 

 supposed to be an accidental cross between the glxuca and tripetala. None 

 of the features of the latter are exhibited in its habit ; and it differs from 

 the former only by its larger flowers and leaves, — differences capable of 

 perpetuation by seed, which it produces in equal abundance with its parent. 

 It is also improved by propagation on the stock of the acuminata. 



5. M. Thompsoniana. — A doubt can hardly be entertained that this is 

 a true hybrid between the glauca and tripetala : though Loudon considers 

 it a variety only of the glauca, " the aboriginal species enlarged in all its 



