102 TREES 



peculiar interest to horticulturists and to the general pub- 

 lic, because they have the largest flowers of any trees in 

 cultivation. A white blossom from six inches to a foot 

 across is bound to attract attention and admiration when 

 set off by a whorl of lustrous evergreen leaves. The petals 

 of most magnolia blossoms are notably thick and waxy in 

 texture and deliciously fragrant. Last but not least 

 are the cone-like fruits, which flush from pale green to rose 

 as they ripen against the dark, leathery fohage; at maturity 

 their follicles open in a peculiar fashion and hang out their 

 bright red seeds on slender elastic threads. Foliage, 

 flowers, or cones alone would make magnolias superb as 

 ornamental trees. All these qualities combined have 

 given them a preeminent place in every country where 

 ornamental planting is done. North America is fortunate 

 in having so large a number of species that assume tree 



form. 



When you see a magnolia in the North blossoming be- 

 fore the leaves, you may be sure it is an exotic species, and 

 if the flowers are colored you may be equally sure that it is 

 a hybrid between two oriental species, and belongs to the 

 group of which the type is M, Soulangeana. The owner 

 may be a magnolia enthusiast, able to show you on his 

 premises both parents of this interesting and beautiful 

 hybrid. 



Yulan Magnolia 



Magnolia Yulan 



The Yulan magnolia, for centuries a favorite in Japanese 

 gardens, covers itself before the leaves appear with pure 

 white, fragrant flowers, bell-shaped and fully six inches 

 across. In our Eastern gardens it is quite as much at 



