JIAONOLIA 



MAGNOLIA 



965 



cone-sljuped fruits are otteu pink or scarlet and very 

 decorative. Most ol: tlie decit-luuus species are fairly 

 hardy, at least in sheltered positions, as far north as 

 northernN.Y. and Mass.. and M. acumhiata , Kolnis and 

 stctUifa even farther north, while M. Camphi'lU is the 

 most tentler. Of the evergreen species, M. ijrunijifloya , 

 one of the most beautiful native trees, is precariuusly 

 hardy north to Philadelphia. The Asiatic deciduous 

 species are among the most showy and striking of the 

 early-flowering trees and shrubs; the earliest is the 

 slinibby J/. kI el lata, blooming in mild climates in Mirch 

 auil after this M. yalini comes in bloom, cb>scl> fol 

 lowedbyJ/. SotihnujeaHa &.ui.\n.ttevt\ns 21. ubo rat t The 

 handsomest of the deciduous species is probaljly AT Jitf 

 poh-uca, with the very large leaves silvery white I tlow 

 and with showy, sweet-scented flowers; also the Amen 

 can M. iiHirrni'hijUa and h-ipetala are conspicuous 1 \ 

 their very large foliage. The ^Magnolias are 

 usually planted as single specimens on the 

 huvn, and there are, perhaps, no plants more 

 striking against a background of dark green 

 conifers, ^onie species, as M. graiitHRoi-a in 

 the South and J/, acuminata farther north, 

 are flue avenue trees. The Magnolias thrive 

 best in somewhat rich, moderately moist and 

 porous soil, preferring sandy or peaty loam, 

 but some kinds which usually grow naturally 

 on the borilers of swamps, as M. ijlaiini, 

 thrive as well in moist and swampy situa- 

 tions. Transplanting is diOicult and is most 

 successfully performed just w'lten the new 

 growth is starting. Prop, by seeds sown im- 

 mediately or stratified, and by layers of last 

 year's growth put down in spring and tongued 

 or notched. Layers are usually severed and 

 transplanted the following spring, but as 

 many of them die after transplanting, it is a 

 safer way to take them off early in July, when 

 the new growth has ripened, plant them in 

 pots and keep in a close frame nntil they are 

 established. Varieties and rarer kin^ls are 

 often veneer- or side-grafted in early spring 

 or summer on potted stock in tho greenhouse 

 or frame; as a stock M. Iripefula is perhaps 

 the best, on account of its better fibrous roots which 

 render transplanting safer, but M, acuminata is also a 

 good stock Sometimes increased by greenwood cut- 

 tings taken with a heel and handled under glass. 



About 20 species in N. America, south to IMexico, 

 Himalayas and E. Asia. Trees and shrubs, with rather 

 stout branches marked with conspicuous leaf-scars; 

 stipules usually adnate to the petiole and inclosing the 

 young successive leaf: fls. terminal, solitary, the buds 

 inclosed in a stipular spathe; sepals 3, often petaloid; 

 petals 6-15; stamens and carpels numerous, the latter 

 connate into a spindle, developing into a cone-like some- 

 what fleshy or leathery fr., with dehiscent. 1-2-seeded 

 carpels; tlie large, usually scarlet seeds often suspen- 

 ded for a time from the fr. by thin threads. The wood 

 is close-grained, usually light and satiny, but not dur- 

 able; that of iV. Inipoli'nca is nuich nsed in .Tapan for 

 laquered ware: the bark and fr. of some species have 

 been used medicinally as a tonic and stimulant. 



Alfred Rehdek. 



Among the finest Magnolias cultivated in the South are 

 the two native evergreen species M. grandiflnra and 

 M. giauca, and the exotics M. puinila and fuscata, the 

 last being now referred to Michelia. jlfagiiolia rirandi- 

 'lora is a noble tree. It is a native of the middle and 

 southern sections of txeorgia, South Carolina, Alabama, 

 Louisiana and the upper districts of Florida, and is 

 recognized as one of the grandest of all broad-leaved 

 evergreen trees. In its native habitat it attains a 

 height of from 75 to 100 feet, with very large, oval or 

 lanceolate coriaceous leaves. The latter vary, however, 

 from very broad to rather narrow, some with a rusty 

 under surface, others quite smooth. The flowers vary 

 also in size, the largest frequently measuring 10-12 in. 

 in diameter when fully expanded ; others do not attain 

 more than half that size. They appear early in May. 

 in some sections during the latter part of April, and 

 continue until the end of June. Some trees produce 

 a few flowers during August, and even as late as Octo- 



ber, bnt these are exceptions. Each flower lasts from 

 2-4 days, when the petals fall and the cone-liUe fruit 

 appears. This gradujilly increases in size until Sep- 

 tember, when the bright coral-red seeds are detached 

 and hang on long filaments. The seed should be 

 gathered when fully ripe, put in dry sand until Febru- 

 ary in the S., then in moist sand for a week or 10 days, 

 when the resinous cuticle can be removed by washing. 



1345. Maenolia Yulan (X %). 

 Coiumonly kno^vn as M. conspicua. 



Sow the cleaned seed in a box or oldfranie, and as the 

 plants show their second leaves pot off in small pots. 

 In July, give a larger-sized pot, and the plants will be 

 sufficiently large to plant in permanent place during 

 the following autumn or winter. It is always advisable 

 to take pot-grown plants, as they succeed better than 

 plants taken up with bare roots. Magnolias are vora- 

 cious feeders, and require rich soil and an abundance 

 of plant-food. Their roots extend to a great length, 

 and to bring out the stately beauty of this tree they 

 should be given ample space. The wood is white, and 

 valued for cabinet work. There are many forms culti- 

 vated in European nurseries, their main characteristics 

 being in the size and form of the leaves and size of 

 flowers. They are propagated by grafting, either by in- 

 arching or cleft- or tongue-graft. The latter should be 

 done under glass, taking 2-year-old pot-grown seed- 

 lings. The fragrance of the flowers varies also, some 

 flowers being more pungent than others, but, as a rule, 

 the fragrance is pleasant. The principal varieties are 

 J/. granJiflin-a var. gloriosa, with fls. often measuring 

 14 in. in diameter; foliage broad and massive, brown on 

 under surface. Seldom grows beyond 18-2.') ft. Var. 

 pnccox, or early-flowering. Var. rclinuiifoliu , with very 

 dark green roundish Ivs., rusty underneath. 



Magnolia giauca, the Sweet Bay, is an evergreen 

 tree in the southern states, becoming deciduous north- 

 ward. It attains a height of 30 ft. in rich bottoms or 

 swampv lands : Ivs. oval, long or elliptical, with a glau- 

 cous under surface: fls. white. 3-4 in. in diameter, very 

 fragrant, and produced from May to July. This tree is 



