90 Ornamental Shrubs. 



producing purple flowers of deeper hue than most others 

 of its class. They expand about the first of April or 

 in early May, and are especially valuable for massing or 

 use in borders of shrubbery. There is no doubt as to its 

 hardiness in ordinary situations and its adaptability to 

 various garden soils. M. norbertiana is another of the 

 shrubby kind, though somewhat taller, with good foliage 

 and pink blossoms appearing two or three weeks later 

 than those of the last mentioned. Though good in itself, 

 it is not especially to be preferred to the other pink vari- 

 eties. All these low-growing sorts should be more gener- 

 ally cultivated than they are now, as they may well take 

 the place of plants which, though better known, are far 

 less valuable where early effects are desired. 



M. obovata. — This is a rather tender species from 

 Japan, and, though growing but five or six feet high and 

 in bushy form, produces large and showy blossoms with 

 six petals and very sweet-scented. The leaves are large, 

 obovate, deep green, and of good substance throughout 

 the entire summer. It is not counted entirely hardy, even 

 in the Middle States. 



M. grandijiora — Evergreen Magnolia. — This is, per- 

 haps, the most beautiful and interesting of all the mag- 

 nolias, but, unfortunately, it is not sufficiently hardy to 

 withstand the rigors of our northern winters. It is in- 

 digenous to nearly all the Southern States and in some 

 instances becomes a tree from seventy to eighty feet in 

 height, though its average proportions in cultivation are 

 much less. In all cases, it is inclined to an erect, slender, 

 and somewhat pyramidal form, and thus is a most desirable 



