Magnolias grown at Harringay House. 69 



Art. V. Description of some of the Magnolias grotvn at Harringay 

 House, Hornsey, Middlesex, the Seat of Edivard Gray, Esq. By 

 Mr. Thomas Press, Jun. 



I HEREWITH send you a description of some magnolias 

 grown in the garden of Harringay House. Among others, the 

 following are the most deserving of notice ; at least, all those 

 who have seen them, and who are acquainted with the most 

 remarkable plants of the same sorts, say they are the finest 

 they ever saw in Britain. The sorts I shall mention are 

 these: — Magnolm grandiflora var. obtusifolia, conspicua, and 

 Sou\ar\gedna, which are against a wall with a south aspect ; and 

 M. macrophylla, which is a standard. 



M. grandtflbra is a splendid tree. Its beautiful white flowers, 

 which begin to open about June or July, and continue in suc- 

 cession until October, form an agreeable contrast to its large, 

 glossy, dark green foliage. This tree is 20 ft. 6 in. in height, 

 and is 22 ft. across from one side to the other. The circum- 

 ference of the stem, at 1 ft. from the ground, is 1 ft. 11 in. ; its 

 age, from the time it was planted, is twenty years. 



M. conspima. — This fine tree is 25 ft. high, and 16 ft. 

 across ; the circumference of the stem, at 1 ft. from the ground, 

 is 2 ft. 8 in. ; its age is, also, twenty years. In the spring of the 

 year, it presents a most beautiful appearance ; for I think we 

 may calculate on liaving at least 2000 blooms on it this next 

 season. 



M. Soulangeana. — This is a very fine tree, considering the 

 sliort time it has been in this country. About six years ago, 

 it was inarched on a strong plant of M. cordata, which was 

 planted at the same time as the others. It is now 20 ft. 6 in. 

 high, and 16 ft. across. The circumference of the stem, at 1 ft. 

 from the ground, is 1 ft. 1 in. 



M. macrophylla. — This is the largest tree of the kind in the 

 country. It is a standard, with rather a regular-shaped head. 

 Its height is 22 ft. ; and the diameter of the space covered by 

 the branches is 17 ft. The circumference of the stem, at 1 ft. 

 from the ground, is 1 ft. 10 in. ; its age is twenty years. It pro- 

 duces an abundance of beautiful white flowers every year. 

 This, and one of the same sort at the Duke of Devonshire's, are 

 among the first that bloomed in this country. It is planted on 

 a border facing the wall against which the other three sorts are 

 planted. 



The situation of these trees is on the top of a hill, in an 

 aspect nearly south. The soil, which is a sandy loam, was 

 trenched to the depth of 5 ft., and nothing put among it, except 

 a little bog earth round the roots of the plants when planted. 

 The subsoil on this spot we have not been able to prove, never 



