in outline, and exceedingly glossy in foliage. The Florida magnolias do not grow as 

 vigorous, having smaller and less glossy leaves, being not as dense and flowering when 

 quite small. 



In autumn the cone-shaped fruits with bright red, highly aromatic seeds also form 

 quite an ornament. Though originally growing in moist places along brooks and rivers, 

 this magnificent tree has been largely transplanted into the southern gardens. In these 

 it is perfectly at home, forming the most charming object imaginable. When late in 

 April and early in May, the large white blossoms unfold and fill the mild air with their 

 fi^agrance, when innumerable Warblers on their way to their northern breeding grounds 

 are seen among its branches, when Cardinal Grosbeaks and Mockingbirds utter their 

 song of jubilee, and Hummingbirds whir from blossom to blossom, then the firiend of 

 Nature stands before this glorious picture full of enchantment and surprise. Another 

 beautiful magnolia of the southern forest is the sweet bay or swamp magnolia {Mag- 

 nolia glauca). This is a much smaller tree, but its abundant creamy- white, cup-shaped 

 flowers are still more fragrant than those of its ally. The leaves are smaller, thinner, and 

 of a silvery- white color on the underside. Growing together in large masses in swamps, 

 the glaucous underside of the leaves is very conspicuous, especially when the wind is 

 blowing. Such a magnolia swamp in full flower is a sight always to be remembered. 

 The loblolly bay*, the red bay", the holly, the laurel cherry', and the American olive* 

 are all very fine trees and often transplanted into the gardens, where they mingle with 

 fragrant viburnums^, with sweet olives®, with myrtles, oleanders, many species of palms, 

 pomegranates, Chinese hibiscus. Noisette, Banksia, and tea roses, Australian myrtles' 

 and bottle-brushes'. Camellias, Cape jasmines, and other semi-tropical shrubs attain 

 here an immense size. A magnolia-like plant, everywhere known as the banana shrub*, 

 with deliciously fragrant flowers, is one of the jewels of these gardens. Pampas grass 

 forms dense fountain-like clumps of great beauty, and several hardy bamboos" of great 

 elegance, growing in dense masses, adorn the finer gardens. Crinums, amaryllis", spider- 

 lilies'^, and many other plants of our northern greenhouses are flourishing in the open 

 air all the year round in this mild climate. 



The charming southern gardens and w^oodlands as well as the hedge-rows of 

 Cherokee roses on the road-sides and in the fields are enlivened by numerous birds. 

 Here is the true home of the "many-tongued" Mockingbird, whose unrivalled song is 

 heard by day and night among the fragrant blossoms of the magnolia, the orange tree, 

 and the laurel cherry. The proud Cardinal Redbird, the elegant Blue Grosbeak, the ever 

 active and ever loud Carolina Wren, the sprightly Orchard Oriole, and the pretty Yellow 

 Warbler are the most prevalent birds in these gardens. 



As the large evergreen* magnolia is the most beautiful among our trees, the Painted 

 Bunting is the most richly colored among our birds. When first seeing and admiring the 

 magnolia, I also noticed this bird among its branches. With its shining purple-violet 

 head, its green back, and its vermillion-red underside it was a striking picture among 



1 Gordonia Lasiantbus. * Persea Carolinensis. ' Prunus Caroliniana. * Osmantbus Americana, b Viburnum 

 odoratissimum and V. Awafaki. « Osmantbus fragrans. i Myrtus Australis. « Callistemon rigidus, Metroslderos 

 robusta and M. semperOurens. » Micbelia fuscata. ' » Phyllostacbjs riridi-glaucescens, Pb. Quilioi, Pb. nigra, Pb. aurea, 

 Fb. mitis, Ph. Henonis, Pb. Sb. castiltonis, Pb. violascens, Pb. bambusoides, Bambusa Metake, Tbamnocalamus Falconeri. 

 ti Hippeastrum. u Hymeaocallis. 



