THE MAGNOLIAS 105 



Christmas decoration. These branches are offered in all 

 Northern cities, and this demand threatens the extinction 

 of the tree, which until comparatively recent years has en- 

 joyed immunity because of the worthlessness of its soft 

 wood. 



The tree's natural range is from the North Carolina 

 coast to Tampa Bay, and west along the Gulf Coast to 

 Texas and southern Arkansas. As an ornamental tree, it 

 is safely planted in Philadelphia, but its life is precarious 

 farther north. It is widely grown in southern California 

 as a street tree, notably in Pasadena and in parks and 

 gardens for its blossoms, foliage, and fuzzy, horny cones. 



The Swamp Bay 



M. glauca, Linn. 



The swamp bay has lustrous, bright green leaves with 

 silvery linings. In Florida and across to Texas and Arkan- 

 sas it grows into a superb evergreen tree, fifty to seventy- 

 five feet in height. Northward along the Atlantic Coast its 

 growth is stunted as the climate becomes more rigorous, 

 until it reaches Massachusetts and Long Island, w^here it 

 becomes a many-stemmed shrub, w^hose beautiful leaves 

 fall in the autumn. On the streets of cities near the New 

 Jersey swamps the flowers of the swamp bay are offered for 

 sale in May. The buds are almost globular, and each one 

 is surrounded by a cluster of new leaves. To spring back 

 these waxy white petals, that are marred by a touch, is 

 criminal; but it is the common practice with boys w^ho 

 hawk these flowers on the streets. ]\Iost of the charm is 

 gone from flowers thus defiled by dingy fingers. 



