■|||*NOTES'MD'';(i}LY'v,ii 



Critique on the July Number. — Magnolias. — Well chosen, Mr. Barry, 

 and a text from which a sermon may often be preached to advantage. There is 

 no finer tree in foliage and flower than the magnolia, and it is a disgrace to us 

 as horticulturists that we see it so seldom planted. Dr. Kirtland's articles pub- 

 lished in the first year of " The Journal of Horticulture " called public attention 

 to the genus. Now, let you and I, yes, all of us, Mr. Barry, who have trees, and 

 mean they shall be appreciated, keep punching the hard-headed public until 

 people open their eyes to the beauties which God gives free as air. Is Magnolia 

 Lenne hardy with you .'' and how about purpurea ? Do not confine yourself to 

 the spring-flowering species ; but, in another article, tell us your experience with 

 the fragrant M. glauca, and its varieties ; the hybrid Tho/npsoniajia, charming 

 as any ; tripetala, a very showy tree ; cordata, glorious in flower ; auriculata or 

 Fraseri ; and the magnificent 7nacrophylla. 



Pear-Blossoms. — The brief article on pear-blossoms is suggestive, calling 

 attention as it does to an additional means for determining varieties. Among the 

 apples, however, I am inclined to think that variations in this particular are not only 

 more frequent, but more marked or decided, than among the pears. The flowers 

 of the " Genesee Chief" are strikingly large and handsome. When in full per- 

 fection, it has seemed to me, that, among the whole list of our ornamental trees, 

 it would be difficult to find its rival. In its chaste beauty and delicacy, it is in- 

 deed the " queen of the orchard." The manner in which the flowers of the 

 " Summer Queen " are put forth is remarkable ; and I confess that I have not 

 unfrequently met with specific distinctions based on variations much less marked 

 and important. The blossom-buds do not appear to be formed the previous 

 year, as those of*the apple usually are, and are never distinguishable from the leaf- 



VOL. VI. 13 97 



