262 



ARBORETUM AND rROTJCI/TUM. 



PART III. 



variety, introduced from Paris about (?) 1830 ; and there is a plant 

 of it in Lee's Nursery, and another in the garden of the London 

 Horticultm-al Society, named M. g. pr£e'cox Andre. The flowers 

 are as large as those of any of the varieties, and they are produced 

 from the end of May till the approach of winter. 

 OtJier Varieties. In consequence of the great demand for this species in the 

 nurseries, many slight variations have been noticed by cultivators, and 

 named as distinct. In the garden of the London Horticultiu-al Society are 

 the following names:— ilf. g.vera, M. g. latifolia, M. g. exoniemis var., 

 M. g. nibiginosa, and some others. 



^ Selection of Varieties. M. g. ohovdta deserves the preference for the mag- 

 nificence of its foHage ; and M. g. exoniinsis, because it flowers early and 

 freely; and because, from the fastigiate form of the tree, it is less liable 

 to be injured by a heavy fall of snow ; it seems also to grow faster than 

 any of the other varieties. Where the tree is to be trained against a wall, 

 M. g. proi'cox deserves the preference on account of the largeness of its 

 flowers, and because they appear early, and continue during the whole 

 summer. M. g. angustifolia deserves culture on account of its foliage, which 

 is quite distinct from that of all the other varieties. The species sold in 

 the nurseries as the common broad-leaved Magnolia grandiflora is fre- 

 quently raised from American, French, or Italian, seeds ; and, hence, the 

 plants, though they grow freely, do not flower for 20 or 30 years after being 

 planted out. For this reason, when it is desired to have plants of the 

 Magndlffl! grandiflora which will flower early, those plants which have been 

 raised by layers from flowering trees ought to have the preference ; or the 

 Exmouth variety should be made choice of, because it is always raised from 

 layers. 



Description. In its native country, the M. grandiflora is a tree varying from 

 60 ft. to 100 ft., or upwards, in height. According to Bartram, its head forms 

 a perfect cone, placed on a straight clean trunk, resembling a beautiful column ; 

 and, from its dark green foliage, " silvered over with milk-white flowers," it is 

 seen at a great distance. In Europe, except in some situations in Spain and 

 Italy, and a few in the south of England, the M. grandiflora is chiefly to be 

 considered as a wall tree. There are standards of it, in the neighbourhood of 

 London, of 20 or 30 years' growth but these are not common ; and, on ac- 

 count of the snow breaking down their bi-anches, they require protection 

 during winter. The leaves vary from 9 in. to 1 ft. in length, and from 3 in. 

 to 4 m. or more in breadth; they are always smooth and shining, and perfectly 

 entire on the edges. They bear a strong resemblance to those of the common 

 laurel (Cerasus Laurocerasus) both in form and colour ; and to those of the 

 orange tree in colour and glossiness, but not in size. In most of the varieties, 

 they are of a rusty brown underneath; and one takes its name from this ap- 

 pearance, though it varies in intensity so much with soil and situation, as to seem 

 rather a variation, than a variety which may be continued by propagation. 

 In America, the flowers appear in May ; in England, seldom before June ; 

 and they continue in some varieties till they are destroyed by frost. The 

 flowers are produced on the summits of the last year's shoots, and are 

 from 6 in. to 8 in., or even 10 in., across. It is remarked by CoUinson, of 

 the flowers of this species of Magnolia, that, unlike those of all the other 

 species (unless we except M. glauca, when it is planted in moist situations), 

 they are produced throughout the whole season ; whereas those of all the other 

 species are produced comparatively at once, and last only a short time. The 

 odour of the flowers is exceedingly sweet, and overpowering to some when 

 near, though it is agreeable at a distance. The seed of the species has in only 

 one or two cases been ripened in England; but it ripens occasionally in 

 Italy and iit the neighbom-hood of Paris {Bonpl. Malmaison, p. 54.) ; and 

 young plants are frequently raised from seed brought from North America. 



Geography. Found in the forests of America, from North Carolina to 

 Louisiana. Of all the trees of North America, east of the Mississippi, it is 

 observed by Michaux, and in the Sylva Americana of Brown, the big laurel 



