Marcu, 1908 
Why the Magnolias Interest 
IN fecNorM blossoms are the largest 
flowers of any trees in cultivation, 
measuring often six and sometimes twelve 
inches in diameter. There are both ever- 
green and deciduous kinds and the flowers 
of the latter, appearing in great profusion, 
need an evergreen background to throw the 
mass into greatest prominence. The flowers, 
usually of a delicious fragrance, do not last 
long, and as they drop expose cone-like fruits, 
the color of which deepens into rosy tints as 
the season advances. 
All magnolias are heavy feeders, thriving 
best in a rich, well drained soil having a good 
supply of moisture. Never allow them to 
suffer for water during the summer; in winter 
itis important to mulch them, as the alternate 
freezing and thawing of the ground is apt to 
be injurious to the roots. They have soft, 
punky roots, and like all trees of this char- 
acter, must be planted in the spring. 
How I Grow Evergreen Mag- 
nolias from Seed 
] HAVE always been greatly interested in 
the cultivation of magnolias and have 
conscientiously read all the articles on this 
subject which have appeared from time to 
time in THE GARDEN MAGAZINE. 
The eastern and southern portions of 
this state are rich in magnolia groves, but 
in this county, where the altitude is too 
great for the evergreen varieties to feel very 
much at home, only the deciduous ones are 
native and free growing. We have such 
splendid native specimens of MZ. Frasert, 
tripetala, and acuminata that it encouraged 
me to hope for a reasonable amount of success 
with a good collection. 
The hardiest evergreen magnolias in this 
region have been raised from seeds shipped 
us “in the burr” from magnolia groves else- 
where, and early November is the time of 
year to obtain them. Sow the seed in flats 
such as are used for growing bulbs and drain 
in the usual way, with crocks or char- 
coal. Then fill to within an inch of the top 
with woods earth mixed with sharp sand. 
Instead of stratifying the seeds, as nursery- 
men recommend, we scrape off the red, 
pulpy coat with a penknife; if you have 
only two or three flats to sow at a time this 
does not take very long. If sowed with 
this coating on the seeds will either decay or 
leisurely take a second year in which to 
germinate. 
When the surface of the earth in the flats 
has been well firmed we sow the seeds about 
THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
an inch apart, cover with half an inch of 
the same soil mixture and water thoroughly. 
The flats may winter on a porch, under a 
shed, or anywhere outdoors where birds 
and chickens will not destroy the seeds. 
We give them no care beyond an occasional 
watering. Perhaps the alternate freezings 
and thawings they undergo help to “hatch” 
the germs from their horny shells. At any 
rate, more than half the seeds so planted 
will flourish tiny leaflets in April. Then they 
need more careful watering—almost daily in 
summer—and a partially shaded position. 
The seedlings’ first winter is usually spent 
in a bulb pit. The M. glauca seedlings 
might be hardy outdoors, but nearly all 
broad-leaved evergreens seem to be tender 
the first year from seed, and we have not 
yet taken any risks with them. The follow- 
ing spring they can be planted with impunity 
wherever they are to grow. 
The foliage of M. glauca, though smaller 
than M. grandiflora, has much the same 
character. I have not as yet tried this vari- 
ety for house decoration, but have some 
young plants ina cold pit that I shall try to 
force for Easter flowers. The perfume of 
the dainty white blossoms is delightful. 
It is well worth while to take some trouble 
to prepare the soil for magnolias; the situa- 
tion, too, should not be bare and wind- 
swept, especially in a changeable climate 
like ours. MM. grandiflora likes a moist, 
light soil, but not stagnant moisture; so we 
often dig a deep hole and put in it stones 
for drainage below the mixture of woods 
earth, sand, and old manure that is filled in 
for the roots. One plant of JZ. grandiflora 
was heroic enough to bloom at the age of 
four years in a rather unfavorable clay soil 
alleviated with leaf-mold and sand. In 
Tennessee I have seen tall hedges of this 
magnolia and also trees sixty or more feet 
in height spangled with numerous great 
white flowers, which are most beautiful 
when but half-blown, looking then like huge 
roses. A mature tree usually bears an after- 
math of midsummer blossoms. 
The foliage of M. grandiflora appears in 
pictures much like that of the rhododendron, 
The sweet bay of the swamps (Magnolia glauca) is 
evergreen South, but a deciduous shrub North. Very 
fragrant flowers; leaves silvery beneath 
$1 
The thick, glossy evergreen leaves, red-brown 
below, and the fragrant, wavy flowers of the bull bay 
(M. grandiflora) 
but in reality it is a much lighter, warmer, 
more translucent green, with a polished 
surface like ficus leaves, giving it cheeriness 
and greater winter value. Indeed, young, 
shapely plants of this magnolia are frequently 
used with great effect for house decoration. 
They are hardier than the rubber tree and 
quite as handsome. 
Even in the North the bull bay is evergreen. This 
expanded flower grew at Dosoris. Long Island, N. Y. 
The only winter protection we give our 
magnolias isa box or barrel open at both ends. 
This is put over young trees about the first 
of November, and the leaves, sifting down 
from other trees, mulch the roots sufficiently. 
Well established, good sized trees do not 
need this protection here. They are most 
beautiful in November, when their broad, 
lustrous leaves contrast vividly with their 
own scarlet fruits. 
With M. glauca, var. Thompsoni, we have 
had but little experience and that has been 
very unsatisfactory. J. funila we grow 
as a house plant. Its leaves are handsome, 
and although the flowers are not lasting 
or very beautiful, their odor is delightful, 
being even better than potpourri. 
Among deciduous magnolias we consider 
WV. stellata and M. conspicua the best, their 
flowers of pure white appearing very early, 
those of the latter often in March or Febru- 
ary. The young pinkish leaves of M. Fra- 
seri, which blooms in April, are almost as 
pretty as the cream-white flowers. 
North Carolina. L. GREENLEE. 
