244 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



valued for their bold and variously coloured fragrant blossoms. Al- 

 though perfectly hardy, some of them, i.e. M. conspicua and M. stellata, 

 flower early, for which reason protection from cold winds and sharp frosts 

 is essential. They do not require special soil as they make good growth 

 in the ordinary garden, provided ample drainage is secured, and the points 

 already referred to are not forgotten. Magnolias transplant best in 

 spring, as the roots are sparsely furnished with fibres. Give a good water- 

 ing immediately after planting. M. glauca blossoms in summer. It is 

 of bushy habit, eight feet to twelve feet high, with half -evergreen leaves, 

 silvery on the under sides, and with medium-sized flowers. It prefers 

 a moist soil. M. Campbelli, from the Himalayas, is unfortunately not 

 sufficiently hardy for all gardens, besides which it does not flower when 

 young. For planting in the warmer parts of the country it can be re- 

 commended, as its large rosy-crimson flowers are very handsome. M. 

 macrophylla is a vigorous tree, with large leaves, often three feet long, 

 and immense cream purple-centred flowers. It comes from the United 

 States, and grows upwards of thirty feet high. M. conspicua (Yulan) 

 is a familiar Chinese spring-flowering tree of branching habit. A tree 

 a dozen feet or so in height is very pretty in March when laden with bold 

 snow-white fragrant flowers. This is the kind of tree for a lawn. Of 

 the Yulan there are several beautiful varieties, but of these only two need 

 be mentioned here. Perhaps the finer of the two is Soulangeana, the 

 flowers of which are heavily tipped and shaded with purple, the inside 

 being flushed with pale pink. Its flowers are very lasting, and appear 

 after those of the type. Lennei, with its reddish-purple flowers, is quite 

 distinct and very free. M. stellata, occasionally labelled M. halleana, 

 is a dainty Japanese shrub, bushy and free. Its sweet-scented, star- 

 shaped flowers, with long white petals, are produced before those of any 

 other Magnolia, and remain in good condition for several weeks. Quite 

 small plants will bloom. The pink-flowered form (rosea) is similar to 

 the species, except that the flowers are rose. M . Watsoni is an uncommon 

 species, with large, sweet-scented, ivory-white flowers, and a cluster of 

 red filaments. M. parviflora is another rare and dwarf species also with 

 white flowers. M . gmndiflora is the only evergreen kind that will be 

 referred to. It is a noble-looking tree, with large, polished green leaves, 

 and in summer, bold, deliciously scented, cream-white flowers. Although 

 usually treated as a wall shrub, it is a success planted as an isolated 

 specimen on the lawn provided shelter from east winds is given. 



Micromelis Folgneri pendula is a new tree from China closely 

 related to Pyrus. It has elegant, drooping branches, clothed with silvery 

 leaves, and bears good-sized heads of white flowers freely in May. Culti- 

 vation is similar to that required by the ornamental Crab Apples. 



Mistletoe. See p. 261. 



Negundo. See Acer. 



Nuttallia cerasiformis (Osoberry). Grows well in hungry soils. 

 It is a native of California, deciduous, bushy, and very free-flowering, 

 with small white flowers produced in pendulous racemes in February 

 and early March. 



