Magnolia. 85 



reached such proportions. It is emphatically a northern 

 species, and may not be at its best in locations where winters 

 are not more or less severe, and where the ground is not 

 covered with snow a portion of the year. This will 

 certainly recommend it to a large constituency. The leaves 

 are from twelve to twenty inches long, and seven or eight 

 inches broad, bright green on the upper surface and pale 

 steel-blue or silvery white on the lower. The flowers are 

 from five to seven inches in diameter, with creamy-white 

 petals and brilliant scarlet filaments. They are very 

 fragrant, and appear after the foliage is fully expanded. 



M. kobus is also Japanese, common to the forests in 

 that country, and of but recent introduction to garden 

 cultivation. In its native habitat it grows to the height of 

 from seventy to eighty feet, with a straight trunk nearly 

 two feet in diameter and covered with slightly colored 

 bark. The head is described as pyramidal in old speci- 

 mens, round, and with short, slender branches. The 

 flowers appear early and in advance of the foliage. They 

 are white, slightly tinged with yellow, from four to five 

 inches across, and without special fragrance. The leaves 

 are obovate, bluish green, six or seven inches in length and 

 about half as broad. It has the bad reputation of not 

 blossoming when young like some others, so that in plant- 

 ing for early effects one should procure as old and large 

 trees as possible. It appears to be hardy, and even in the 

 absence of flowers is a desirable acquisition. 



M. salicifolia. — In his visit to the Japanese forests, 

 Professor Sargent found, and describes, another magnolia, 

 to which the above name has been given. He speaks of it 



