The Tingle Nursery Co., Pittsville, Md. 51 


The Rare Franklinia 
FRANKLINIA ALATAMAHA — GORDONIA ALATAMAHA 

This exquisite fall flowering tree was brought in 1777 
from the banks of the Alatamaha River in Georgia to Bar- 
tram’s garden at Philadelphia. John Bartram, recognizing 
its extraordinary beauty and value, named it in honor of 
his life-long, dear friend, Benjamin Franklin. 
The original grove of again visited in 

1790, but from that day to this no one has seen these trees 
growing in the wild though many expeditions have searched 
the banks of the Alatamaha for it 
Franklin's tree is rarely beautiful in detail and marvelous in 
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landscape effect besides blooming at a season when few 
shrubs or trees are in flower. 
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The slender trunk and graceful branches are so muscular 


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and sinewy in appearance that one almost expects motion as 
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under a greyhound’s satin skin. The bark is smooth and dark 
gray, with wavering lengthwise markings of lighter color 
Each . a a cluster of buds of craduated 
ach twig develops ai a cilusier Ol Dudas of graduate 
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size, like overgrown greenish pearls. Early in August th 
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largest of these attain the size of marbles. Then the gua 
petal folds back, still retaining its firm spherical form. From 
its shelter emerge four other petals, satiny, snowy white, elab- 
orately frilled and pleated. The snowy, frilly chalice, three 
holds a mptuous mass of orange gold 
inches in diameter, holds a sumptuous m 
stamens and breathes forth a delicate, balmy fragrance. 
Each flower lasts two or three days and tl rops cleanly 
There is a const u i f bl il) | i s 
frequently get the unusual effe f t clad in crimson 
autumn foliage and abundant! 1 wit! hi 
The Franklinia begins blooming when ore than th 
or four feet high. Young trees und avorable conditions in- 
crease in height a I 
feet high are known. It devel 
but may easily be trained sing! pe by remov- 
ing sprouts which star 
Franklinia prefers full sun and has proven entirely hardy a- 
bout New York an 

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hardy in favorable 
locations about Bos- 
; rage Ved 
on. It is an espec- 
lally desirable tree 
far tro meal) int 
ior the small inti- 
aA ireland od 
miaie Ygarae#l, iOvVv 
ana hved in. lt isa 
charming lawn tree 
ana the grass may 
be allowed to grow 
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Ciosely aqapout ls 
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trunk. it also thrives 
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wnen pianied DY 
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pools, lakes and 
streams. Its ight 
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elegance of form and 
color contrasts ex- 
: ; 
Quilsite y wi1in the 
qagark green of coni- 
tare 
iers. 
Low prices as 

fellows 
12 to 18 in. $1.00 each, 3 for $2.50: 18 to 24 in $1.50, 3 for 
$3.75; 2 to 3 ft. $2.25 each, 3 for $6.00; 3 to 4 ft. $3.00 each 
