HARDY SHRUBS 323 



culture, prolificacy of flowers, which are white, yellow, pink, scarlet 

 and even purple, and besides many sorts produce very attractive 

 berries. L. Standishii, a half evergreen blush white flowering sort, 

 and L. fragrantissima, both bloom as early as March, the flowers 

 being very fragrant but inconspicuous. L. Morrowii and L. Rup- 

 rechtiana are both valuable on account of their handsome red fruit 

 which ripens in great abundance. Most Loniceras enjoy the sun, 

 but are grown in almost any situation, however; L. Xylosleum is good 

 in partially shaded situations. L. Albertii is a dwarf species with small 

 and narrow glaucous leaves and purplish flowers useful for rockeries. 



Propagation. Seeds sown in September will germinate the 

 following Spring. The branches may be layered any time after 

 mid-Summer. They may be propagated by cuttings taken any 

 time during a wet spell in Summer, and rooted indoors. After this 

 process they may be heeled in boxes of soil, and afterward either 

 planted in rows outside or kept in a frame till Spring ; or hardwood 

 cuttings may be taken in Winter. 



MAGNOLIA. All of the hardy species, some of which are 

 fair-sized trees, are well worth growing. They may be divided into 

 two sections — North American and Asiatic. Those of the former 

 produce their flowers after the leaves are formed, while the decidu- 

 ous, Asiatic species bloom for the most part on the naked wood, 

 and very early in Spring. M. grandiflora, an evergreen species, 

 native of the Southern States, begins blooming here about the end 

 of May and continues throughout the Summer. In the region of 

 Washington it is hardy, but during Winter, when the thermometer 

 registers from 5 to 10 degrees below zero, the leaves are almost 

 certain to fall, although without apparent injury to the plant. North 

 of here it has a struggle for existence. Seeds sown in Autumn 

 usually germinate in Spring. Seedlings are more vigorous than 

 grafted plants, but they nevertheless take a considerable time before 

 attaining a flowering size. M. macrophylla, another native, is 

 known as the Great-leaved Magnolia; it is much hardier than M. 

 grandiflora. The leaves are from 2 to 3 feet long, and proportion- 

 ately broad. The flowers are nearly a foot across. It is easily 

 raised from seed. In this locality its blooming period is during the 

 last half of May and early in June. M. glauca, M. Thonisoniana 

 and M. Watsoni are all desirable hardy shrubs. The two last named 

 have larger flowers than the type. 



Among the Chinese and Japanese species and varieties, M. 

 stellata is the earliest to come in bloom; it is sometimes in full flower 



