Magnolia. 89 



because of the color of its flowers, is also of Chinese ex- 

 traction. Downing says that both the white and the 

 purple varieties " eclipse every other floral object, whether 

 tree or shrub, that the garden contains." This variety is 

 said to be a hybrid, and one of the more hardy sorts. The 

 blossoms are white within and dark purple or lilac-colored 

 without, and very fragrant. In all other particulars it 

 partakes of the general characteristics of the family. 

 JM. ati^opiirpurea, or dark purple magnolia, blooms in May 

 and is distinguished by having the darkest-colored flowers 

 of the whole list. It, too, is from China, and not at all 

 common in the nurseries or in garden cultivation. It is to 

 the magnolias what the purple beech is to its congeners. 



M. macrophylla, or the great-leaved magnolia, has im- 

 mense leaves from one to three feet long and ten to twelve 

 inches wide. The flowers are nearly or quite a foot across, 

 with white petals, purple at the base, and moderately fra- 

 grant. The tree is medium sized, and has the most tropical 

 appearance of any of the hardy forms. The combination 

 is such that it is difficult to decide whether the leaves or 

 flowers are most to be admired. It is an American 

 species, and sufficiently hardy for planting in favorable 

 conditions in the Northern and Eastern States. 



M. alexandrina is small, rising from ten to twelve 

 feet, and is more of a bush than a tree. It is one of the 

 earlier-blooming varieties, bearing large pink flowers in 

 May, and in some favored localities late in April. It is 

 more especially adapted to gardens and grounds of limited 

 dimensions. M. gracilis is also shrub-like in its propor- 

 tions, being not more than ten to fifteen feet high, and 



