42 Notes and Gleanings. 



and in every instance it received the highest commendation, without one word 

 of question as to its being distinct from Franconia, or any other variety ; and 

 the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, in their published report on this fruit, pro- 

 nounced it the finest red raspberry for market ever exhibited there. 



Painesville, O., May 4, 1S69. ^I- B. BateJiam. 



Magnolias. — Our readers will hardly need to have Mr. Barry's article on 

 the Magnolia pointed out to them as one of the most interesting that we have 

 ever published. Nothing can be more desirable than the hardy species of this 

 magnificent tree, coming so early in the spring, delightfully fragrant, and easily 

 cultivated if planted in a peaty soil. They have hitherto been scarce and high 

 priced, owing to the difficulty of propagation ; but experience has given Messrs. 

 Ellvvanger & Barry so much skill, that they are now able to multiply them with 

 much greater rapidity than formerly. 



Mr. Wilder has at his grounds, in Dorchester, a collection of six or eight va- 

 rieties, planted around the house, one of which, Soulangeaiia, is probably the 

 largest in New England. It is of pyramidal form, branched to the ground, and 

 is estimated to have produced this vear some thousands of flowers. We saw it 

 when past its highest beauty; but there were then probably over a thousand left. 

 It is a singular fact that one branch bears flowers of much darker color than the 

 rest of the tree, being very nearly of rose color ; and the foliage is also smaller, 

 and puts out later. We would suggest that this sport might be perpetuated l)y 

 grafting, and thus a new variety be produced. We also noticed in the collection 

 one very peculiar for the large size and elegance of its flowers, which were of 

 about the same size and color as M. conspiciia, with pointed petals, and a pecu- 

 liar lily-like form. It was imported many years ago, and the label lost. 



These trees were made by layering ; but the plan of grafting on the Af. acu- 

 minata is much preferable, giving vigor and robustness to the smaller-growing 

 kinds. We saw, for instance, at Dr. Kirtland's garden at Cleveland, O., growing 

 near the door, a Magnolia glaiica, which is commonly a moderate-sized shrub, 

 but which, grafted on the M. acuminata, had made a trunk as large as a man's 

 thigh. Another specimen of equal size is a conspicna in the grounds of Mr. 

 Charles Downing, at Newburg, N.Y. We saw some of Mr. Downing's trees 

 when two years from the bud, and they were then the most perfect pictures of 

 youthful vigor we ever beheld. It would be worth while to raise such trees 

 for the mere pleasure of seeing them grow, even though they never bore a 

 flower. 



The Royal Ascot is a black grape of the darkest color, with a slight clean 

 bloom. The bunches have not hitherto been grown to a great size ; possibly 

 because the vine has been overtaxed, — an incident common to a new variety of 

 grape : but it compensates for comparative smallness of bunch by immense pro- 

 ductiveness ; and, if judged away from the exhibition-table, the bunciies will be 

 considered large enough for any ordinary purpose where a dessert-fruit of the 

 finest quality is required, irrespective of any appeal by monstrous size to the 

 organ of wonder in the heads of the guests. The berries are large, slightly 



