MAGNOLIAS. 
321 
M. Soulangeana, rustica, and Thompsoniana, appear to be natural 
hybrids, but I have been so fortunate as to obtain a direct hybrid. 
It was in 1907 that pollen was obtained from M. Camphelli, grow- 
ing out of doors, and applied to M. conspicua, forced into bloom, 
the result being the saving of seven ripe seeds. These were duly 
sown and I had five young plants. These grew vigorously, and in 
spite of transplanting soon attained a height of 12 to 14 feet. The 
first flowers appeared in 1917 and since then they have flowered 
annually. Four of the plants bore creamy white flowers, 5 to 6 
inches long, and sweet scented. The foliage in some resembles that 
of M. Camphelli, and in others is intermediate. 
Fortunately one plant is quite distinct in colouring, being inter- 
mediate between its parents. Mr. W. J. Bean, our great authority 
on hardy shrubs and trees, saw some of its flowers in Exeter in 191 9, 
and has favoured me with a description for publication. This year 
(1920) twenty buds appeared, but owing to mild weather developed 
in February and were badly damaged by ten degrees of frost. The 
following is Mr. Bean's description of the plant : 
"Magnolia Veitchii. — In April 1919, during a visit to the Royal 
Nurseries at Exeter, Mr. P. C. M. Veitch showed me a bloom of his 
new hybrid Magnolia for which I propose the above name. He 
raised it in 1907 by crossing the Yulan {M. conspicua) with M. 
Camphelli, and a very remarkable tree is the result, as beautiful in 
flower as it is noble in foliage. It may be described as follows : 
" A deciduous tree which will no doubt grow ultimately to a height 
of 30 to 40 feet ; young wood purplish, clothed at first with appressed 
grey hairs, becoming brown the second year. Leaves obovate, 
mostly rounded at the base and terminated by a short abrupt point ; 
they vary considerably in size, the largest being 10 inches to 12 
inches long and 5 inches to 6 inches wide, the smallest with about 
half those dimensions ; dark green at maturity but purplish (especially 
beneath) when young ; the mid-rib and chief nerves clothed with 
grey down ; leaf stalk | inch to i inch long and downy. Flowers 
solitary at the end of the naked twigs, each measuring 6 inches long ; 
petals nine, i J inches to 2 inches wide, rounded and broadest near the 
apex, tapering towards the base. The colour is a lovely blush pink. 
" From this description it will be seen that this hybrid is inter- 
mediate in several respects between the parents. In size of leaf it 
has inherited the fine dimensions of M. Camphelli and a good deal 
of its pubescent character, but in shape and firmness of texture it 
favours the Yulan more closely. The entire flower and the individual 
petals are intermediate between those of the parents in size, and 
the pure whiteness of the Yulan has diluted the colour derived from 
M. Camphelli. Like so many hybrids, M. Veitchii possesses great 
constitutional vigour. The raiser is to be congratulated on obtaining 
a fine addition to a group of flowering trees and shrubs. It ought 
to be perfectly hardy over the Southern half of England, and in all 
the Western counties." 
VOL. XLVI. 
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