PITTSVELLE, MARYLAND 39 



You Should Grow 



The Rare Franklinia 



(Franklinia Alatamaha; Gordonia Alatamaha) 



Our sales of Franklinia have increased more in 

 the past three years than that of any plant we sell. 

 It is one plant most every one wants once they see 

 it and they tell their friends about it, too. 



This exquisite fall-flowering tree was brought in 1777 from 

 the banks of the Alatamaha River in Georgia to Bartram's 

 garden at Philadelphia. John Bartram, recognizing its 

 extraordinary beauty and value, named it in honor of his 

 life-long friend, Benjamin Franklin. 



The original grove of Franklinia trees was 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 them. 



Franklin's tree is beautiful in detail and marvelous in 

 landscape effect, besides blooming at a season when few 

 shrubs or trees are in flower. 



The slender trunk and graceful branches are so muscular 

 and sinewy in appearance that one almost expects motion 

 as under a greyhound's skin. The bark is smooth and dark 

 gray, with wavering lengthwise markings of lighter color. 



Each twig develops at its tip a cluster of buds of graduated 

 size, like overgrown greenish pearls. Early in August the 

 largest of these attain the size of marbles. Then the guard 

 petal folds back, still retaining its firm spherical form. From 

 this shelter emerge four other petals, satiny, snowy white, 

 elaborately frilled and pleated. The snowy, frilly chalice, 

 three inches in diameter, holds a sumptuous mass of orange- 

 gold stamens and breathes forth a delicate, balmy fragrance. 



Each flower lasts two or three days and then drops cleanly. 

 There is a constant succession of bloom till hard frost. We 

 frequently get the unusual effect of a tree clad in crimson, 

 autumn foliage and abundantly starred with white flowers. 



The Franklinia begins blooming when not more than 

 3 or 4 feet high. Young trees under favorable conditions in- 

 crease in heignt a foot or more each season. Specimens 30 

 feet high are known. It develops naturally with several 

 trunks, but may easily be trained to a single trunk by 

 removing the sprouts which start from the base. 



Franklinia prefers full sun, has proved entirely hardy 

 about New York and hardy in favorable locations about 

 Boston. It is an especially desirable tree for the small, 

 intimate garden, loved and lived in. It is a charming lawn 

 tree and the grass may be allowed to grow closely about the 

 trunk. It also thrives when planted by pools, lakes and 

 streams. Its light elegance of form and color contrasts 

 exquisitely with the dark green of conifers. 



Items marked by an asterisk (*) are classed as Lining-Out 

 stock. 



Each 



*4 to 8 in. seedlings 



*8 to 12 in. seedlings 



*3 in. pot plants 



18 to 24 in. $1.25 



2 to 3 ft 1.50 



3 to 4 ft 2.00 



4 to 5 ft 2.50 



5 to 6 ft 3.00 



6 to 7 ft 4.00 



7 to 8 ft 5.00 



8 to 10 ft 7.50 



Pnt a few of these Franklinia in your display garden so 

 your customers may see them in bloom. You will be sur- 

 prised at the extra sales yon will make. The leading: garden 

 magazines have featured them in their columns. 



10 



100 



$2.00 



$15.00 



2.50 



20.00 



6.00 



50.00 



11.00 



100.00 



13.50 



125.00 



18.50 



175.00 



23.50 



225.00 



28.50 



275.00 



38.50 





48.50 





72.50 





