THE CHINESE MAGNOLIAS. 337 



of large and fine seeds, from which we hope to raise many 

 plants.* 



This- tree is perfectly hardy in this latitude, and we have never 

 known one of its flower buds (which are quite large in autumn), or 

 an inch of its wood, to be killed by the most severe winter. It is, 

 however, grafted about a foot from the ground, on a stock of our 

 western magnolia sometimes called in Ohio the " cucumber-tree " 

 (J/". acuminata). This perhaps renders it a little more hardy, and 

 rather more vigorous than when grown on its own root as this 

 native sort is the very best stock for all the Chinese sorts. It is so pro- 

 pagated by budding in August ; and no doubt the spring budding 

 recommended by Mr. Nelson, would be a highly successful mode. 



The next most ornamental Chinese magnolia, is Soulange's pur- 

 ple (M. soulangiana). This is a hybrid seedling, raised by the late 

 Chevalier Soulange Bodin, the distinguished French horticulturist 

 The habit of the tree is closely similar to that of the conspicua ; its 

 blossoms, equally numerous, are rather larger, but the outside of the 

 petals is finely tinged with purple. It partakes of the character of 

 both its parents having the growth of magnolia, conspicua, and 

 the color of magnolia purpurea (or indeed a lighter shade of purple). 

 Its term of blooming is also midway between that of these two spe- 

 cies, being about a week later than that of the white or Qulan 

 magnolia. It is also perfectly hardy in this latitude. The purple 

 Chinese magnolia (M. purpurea) is a much dwarfer tree than the 

 two preceding species. Indeed, it is properly a shrub, some six or 

 eight feet in its growth in this latitude. Grafted on the " cucumber- 

 tree," it would no doubt be more vigorous, and perhaps more hardy, 

 for it is occasionally liable to have the ends of its branches slightly 

 injured by severe winters here. Its flowers begin to open early in 

 May, and on an old plant they continue blooming for six weeks, and 

 indeed in a shaded situation, often for a considerable part of the 

 summer. These blossoms are white within, of a fine dark lilac or 

 purple on the outside, and quite fragrant like the others. This is 

 the oldest Chinese magnolia known here, having been brought from 



* There is, we learn, a fine large specimen of this tree in the garden of 

 Mr. William Davidson, Brooklyn, N. Y. 



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