DBIMYS 



MAGNOLIA ORDER 



ILLICIUM 173 



be grown in a deep and rich turfy loam, 

 to which a little sand and leaf mould 

 may be added. The soil should be well 

 drained, as stagnant moisture at the root 

 is not only injurious to the growth of the 

 plant, but effectually checks the appear- 

 ance of its fragrant blossoms just at a 

 period when they are most desirable. 

 During the late summer and autumn 

 months the shoots may be layered, and 

 will be well rooted by the following spring 

 or autumn. 



In most parts of the country the 

 ' Winter Sweet ' requires the protection 

 of a wall with a south or western aspect. 



The shoots may be trained upon it in the 

 same way as those of the Peach and 

 Nectarine. After flowering is over it is 

 essential to thin out all the old and use- 

 less shoots, so as to encourage the de- 

 velopment of young branches during the 

 year. It is on these young shoots, formed 

 each year after the flowering period, that 

 the blossoms are borne in vrinter, and it 

 would be a mistake, therefore, to prune 

 the plants in the autumn, when a good 

 deal of such work is done. The variety 

 gramdiflorus is superior to the type, and 

 has larger flowers. 



III. MAGNOLIACEiE— Magnolia or Lily Tree Order 



For the most part beautiful and often aromatic trees and shrubs, with 

 alternate, leathery, entire or toothed leaves, distinctly jointed with the stem. 

 Stipules deciduous, but when young are rolled together, and leave ringed 

 marks where they fall off. Flowers solitary usually hermaphrodite ; sepals 

 3-6, deciduous ; petals 3 or more, hypogynous, imbricated in several rows. 

 Stamens numerous, hypogynous, often with dilated or thickened filaments, 

 free, or monadelphous in male flowers. Carpels numerous, rarely few or 

 solitary, spirally arranged upon a torus above the stamens, one-celled. Fruit 

 either woody or fleshy, dehiscent or indehiscent. 



This order includes some of the most beautiful flowering trees and shrubs 

 in the world. 



and Ireland. They require the protection 

 of a wall, and their cultivation should not 

 be attempted in cold districts. They 

 thrive in sandy loam, and are propagated 

 by inserting cuttings of the half- ripened 

 wood in a cold frame under a glass during 

 the summer months. 



ILLICIUM (Aniseed Tree). — A 

 genus containing only a few species of 

 rather tender smooth evergreen shrubs 

 or small trees, with oblong leathery 

 stalked leaves, which emit an aromatic 

 odour when rubbed between the hands. 

 The yellowish or purple hermaphrodite 

 flowers are borne either singly or in threes 

 on the sides of the twigs. Sepals 3 or 6, 

 membranous, in one or two series. Petals 

 numerous, in many series. Stamen fila- 

 ments rather thick. Carpels numerous, 

 arranged star-wise on the torus, and 

 becoming fleshy or rather woody when 

 mature. 



Culture and Propagation. — The Ani- 

 seed Trees require precisely the same 

 cultural treatment as mentioned under 



DRIMYS. — A genus of fine evergreen 

 half-hardy trees with aromatic bark, and 

 axiUary terminal flowers. Sepals 2-3, 

 membranaceous, cohering, deciduous. 

 Petals 6 or more, overlappiug in 2 or more 

 rows. 



D. aromattca. — A highly aromatic 

 Tasmanian shrub, 9-12 ft. high, with 

 oblong light green dotted leaves, tapering 

 towards the base. The white or pinkish 

 flowers are borne in early summer — the 

 males on one plant, the females on 

 another — and consist of 3 sepals and 6 

 (or sometimes 8) petals. 



Culture dc. as for D. Winteri. 



D. Winteri (Wintera aromatica). — ■ 

 Winter's Barh. — A native of S. America, 

 where it reaches a height of 25 ft. or more. 

 It has deep green smooth oblong obtuse 

 leaves, glaucous beneath. The flowers, 

 with 8-12 petals, are about 1 in. across 

 and have a Jasmine-like perfume. 



Cultv/re and Propagation. — These 

 two species can be grown out of doors only 

 in the most favourable parts of England 



