MY SHRUBS 75 



is their king, and I have known men who built their camp-fires 

 of the wood. It is tender, and needs a wall, and protection in 

 very cold weather. I have not flowered it yet, but hope to see 

 its wonderful rosy blossoms some day. Meanwhile, it is pleasant 

 to mark Campbell? s growth and very beautiful foliage. M. con- 

 spicua, the Yulan of China, grows swiftly, and ^oon attains flower- 

 ing size. Its blossoms are white, while those of M. Lennei are a 

 pale purple. M. stellata covers its naked limbs in April with 

 scented stars of purest white ; while M. Osaka is the darkest that 

 I know, and its blossoms are the colour of chocolate almost 

 black in the bud. Magnolia parviflora resembles M. pumila, 

 as figured in the " Botanical Magazine." Pumila was held doubt- 

 fully a magnolia once and, without consulting China, whence it 

 came, certain worthy botanists of Madras proposed to call it 

 Gwillamia after Lady Gwillim. Curtis, however, declined the 

 suggestion, "though desirous of paying every respect to that 

 amiable lady." We all know people who would add a delight 

 to a flower by lending it their names, but botany must be 

 respected. M. pumila, which I do not find in modern cata- 

 logues, is an evergreen, and cannot therefore be M. parviflora. 

 M. juscata is, however, allied to the other Chinese dwarf. This 

 beautiful little magnolia, whose fragrant stars are a pale auburn, 

 is evergreen, and, though a slow grower, seems well worth while 

 for the cold house. Mine flowers yearly, though it is but a foot 

 high yet. The leaves are bright and shining. Of course that 

 notable giant, M. grandiflora y is on the wall of every flower-lover's 

 dwelling in the West Country, when there is room for it, and 

 many good specimens thereof flourish and flower abundantly in 

 the open. Its giant blossom of pale cream is among the finest 



