grotaing at Mamhead^ near Exeter. 131 



luxuriance in any part of England ; and a prospect out to sea 

 many leagues in extent. 



Magnolia, grandiflbra var. obovdla. — Circumference of the 

 trunk, 2 ft. 10 in.; height, 21 ft.; diameter of the space covered 

 by the branches, 22 ft. 



MagnoRsi grandiflbra var. exo7iiensis. — Circumference of the 

 trunk, 3 ft. 2 in. ; height, 22 ft. ; diameter of the space covered 

 by the branches, 21 ft. 6 in. 



Magnolia, grandiflbra var. lanceoldta. No. 1. — Circumference 

 of the trunk, 4 ft. 1 in. ; height, 20 ft. ; diameter of the space 

 covered by the branches, 31 ft. 6 in. 



Magnblia grandvflbra var. lanceoldta. No. 2. — Circumference, 

 3 ft. 5 in. ; height, 21 ft. ; diameter of space covered with branches, 

 28 ft. 6 in. 



Magnblia grandiflbra var. lanceoldta. No. 3. — Circumference 

 of the trunk, 3 ft. 2 in. ; height, 20 ft. ; diameter of space covered 

 by the branches, 21 ft. 6 in. 



[Specimens of all these varieties have been received ; and we 

 found them remarkably large and beautiful.] 



You have, as above, three distinct varieties of Magnoh'a gran- 

 diflora; and I have given the diameter of the space covered by 

 their branches as the readiest way : for the magnolias, from which 

 the above were selected, consist of fourteen trees growing so 

 close together, and so in among each other in one direction, that 

 I took the diameter of the space covered by their branches, 

 instead of the circumference ; which would not, perhaps, be ex- 

 actly three times the diameter I have given, but very nearly so. 

 M. grandiflora var. lanceolata is the only one of the three varieties 

 that has any capsule fairly formed. The ferrugineous coating 

 on the under side of the leaf is much thicker in this variety than 

 in any other. 



These fine trees grow on the top of a terrace in front of the 

 hot-houses and orangery; and are, in every respect, fully exposed, 

 though in a favoured situation. There are fourteen magnolias 

 on the terrace, consisting of the varieties above enumerated ; 

 which are covered, during a considerable part of the year, with 

 thousands of flowers, diffusing their delicious fragrance around 

 to a great distance. This terrace originally was a sloping bank; 

 and, in order to form a proper level for it, a large quantity of 

 soil was added, which has covered the stems of the magnolias 

 fully 4- ft. to 5 fr. deep : and although this has, of course, mate- 

 rially diminished their height, it has added very greatly to their 

 luxuriant growth ; for they have rooted out, into the rich sandy 

 soil thrown round them, up to the very surface, which is now a 

 dense mass of healthy fibres. This was done only four years 

 since. Although, perhaps, there may be some taller trees of 

 this sort in Devonshire, still, when I take into consideration that 

 this splendid row of fourteen trees covers a space 162 ft, long 



L 2 



