CHAPTER XXVI. 
THE MAGNOLIAS. 
The Cucumber-tree.—Its Range and Manner of Growth. —TIts At- 
tainable Height and Ornamental Character.—How Propagated.— 
Yellow Cucumber- tree. — Where Found.—Its Beauty and Or- 
namental Character. — Quality and Durability of its Wood.—A 
Reason for its Scarcity.—Small Magnolia, Sweet Bay.—Its At- 
tainable Height.—Its Limited Range and Exceptional Ornament. 
—A Perfect Specimen Described.—How to Preserve its Seed and 
Young Plants.—Great-leaved Magnolia—Its Rarity and Remark- 
able Characteristics.—U mbrella-tree.—Its Resemblance to the Great- 
leaved Magnolia. —Its Range of Growth and Favorable Soil.— 
Its Usual Height.—Its Artistic Beauty, Odoriferous Qualities, and 
Peculiar Tendency. —Ear-leaved Magnolia, or Ear-leaved Um- 
brella-tree.—Where Found.—Its Height.—Its Pleasing and Distin- 
guishing Features.— Yulan Magnolia.—Its Foreign Nativity and 
Recent Introduction into the United States.—Its Distinctive Char- 
acter and Odoriferous Production.—The Foliage of Young Trees De- 
scribed. — Recommended Specimens. — The Conspicuous-flowered 
Magnolia. —Its Distinguishing Difference. —The Empress Alex- 
andrina’s Conspicuous-flowered Magnolia.—Date of Introduction 
into England.—Its Parallel of Thrift and its Floral Productiveness, 
Manner of Planting.—Magnolia Purpurea.— ts Nativity.—Color 
of Bloom.—How Grown, and Medicinal Properties. 
THE CUCUMBER-TREE. 
Tuis tree is found in western New York, through Ohio 
and Indiana, southern Illinois, and south to the Gulf of 
Mexico. It is about the largest of its species except- 
ing the big laurel. It is of very rapid growth, fine 
shape, and of an ornamental character. Unlike any 
other magnolia, the flowers of this tree add very little 
to its beauty, as they consist of six twisted, scraggy pe- 
tals, without any beauty or special color. Its wood is of 
the same order as the linden, basswood, etc., and is sel- 
