DESCRIPTION or TREES SUITABLE FOR PLANTING. 



51 



Cucumber Tree (Magnolia ncuminata) is indigenous to the mountains 

 of this State, but grows well in cultivation from Raleigh westward. It 

 forms a slender tree of moderate size, becoming upward of 60 feet in 

 height. The excurrent trunk is covered with light-gray, slightly scaly 

 bark; and the long symmetrical crown, conical when young, and oval when 

 past middle age, is formed of numerous short nearly horizontal or slightly 

 ascending angled branches, with ascending tips set with short, stout, spur- 

 like, erect twigs. The bright green lustrous foliage appears early in 

 spring and forms a dense shade. The greenish white fragrant flowers 

 open in May soon after the leaves and are succeeded by the conspicuous 

 green or reddish fruit. The large, silvery-gray velvety buds are prominent 

 in winter. Like the tulip poplar, the cucumber tree cannot be severely 

 pruned. It also requires the same care in transplanting. It is not known 

 to be subject to any diseases. 



The fleshy seed should be collected from the cones in September and 

 kept like those of the other magnolias during winter. The seedlings re- 

 quire a slight shade during the first two years. While scarcely adapted 

 for ordinary street planting, the cucumber tree lends itself admirably on 

 account of its dignity, straight trunk, symmetrical crown, lustrous foliage, 

 and pleasing winter appearance to planting avenues and parks. A hand- 

 some specimen, more than 75 feet in height, ornaments the State House 

 grounds at Raleigh. 



Mountain Magnolia (Magnolia fraseri) is a native of the higher 

 mountains of this State and so far as is known, has not been cultivated 

 below them. There is little reason, however, why it should not do as well 

 as the cucumber tree where that will thrive. 



It is a middle-sized tree attaining a height of from 40 to 50 feet, reach- 

 ing its maturity before its fiftieth year and rapidly passing into senile 

 decrepitude. The excurrent trunk is straight and cylindrical, covered 

 with smooth light-gray l)eech-like bark. The crown, formed of few 

 spreading branches, is oval Avhen young and broadly oval at maturity. 

 The ample bright green, lustrous leaves are borne in spreading whorls at 

 the tips of the twigs. The very large, creamy-Avhite flowers, 8 inches or 

 more in diameter, appear before the leaves at the tips of the twigs in early 

 May and are followed in mid-summer by the beautiful scarlet fruit, 4 

 inches or more in length on declined or even pendant pedicles. The few 

 very large red-brown lustrous twigs are upcurved at their tips and capped 

 by prominent, elongated buds. 



As in the case of the other magnolias, it should be pruned only in ex- 

 treme moderation. It requires the same care in transplanting and is 

 propagated in the same manner as the cucumber tree. The foliage is free 



