274 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PART III. 



rare in the parts of Kentucky and West Tennessee which are most remote 

 from the mountains, where the face of the country is less uneven." (Mi- 



cliaux.) 



History. M. acuminata was first discovered by John Bartram, and was sent 

 by him to Mr. Peter CoUinson, in 1736. Being readily propagated by layers, 

 and very hardy, it was soon spread extensively through European gardens ; 

 and there are now numerous trees of it in Britain, France, and in the north 

 of Italy, from 40 ft, to 60 ft. in height. 



Properties and Uses. The tree being comparatively rare in its native 

 country, its timber is not in general use. Where it can be obtained, it is 

 employed in joinery and cabinet-making ; and, from its size and lightness, large 

 trunks are selected for scooping out into canoes. The inhabitants of the 

 Alleghanies gather the fruits about midsummer, when they are half ripe, and 

 steep them in whisky : a glass or two of this liquor, which is extremely bitter, 

 is considered to be a preventive against the autumnal fevers. In Europe, 

 the tree can only be considered as ornamental ; though its fruit might no 

 doubt be applied in the same manner as in Amei-ica. 



Soil a7id Situation. A free, deep, and rather moist soil answers best for this 

 species ; but, as it is much hardier than any of the other species in this section, 

 it will grow in almost any soil that is moderately free, and not overcharged 

 with moisture. To attain a large size, it requires a sheltered situation, and a 

 deep rich soil ; but it will grow in exposed sites, and even flower there freely. 



Propagation and Culture. It is generally propagated in the London nurseries 

 by layers, the plants so produced flowering much sooner than seedlings ; but 

 the latter, as they make far more durable plants, should always be preferred 

 when this species is used as a stock to graft or inarch others on. It is so used 

 very generally, not only for M. auriculata and cordata, but for M. conspicua 

 and Soulangeroia. The plants are, in some nurseries, grown in the free soil ; 

 but it is always preferable to rear them in pots ; because, in that case, they are 

 not checked by transplanting, and at least a year is gained in theu- growth. 



Statistics. Magnolia acuviindta in Great Britain. The largest tree stood in 

 the garden of Lord Petre, at Thorndon Hall in Essex ; but it was cut down 

 some years ago, and its exact dimensions we have not been able to ascertain ; 

 though we have seen a section of the trunk which exceeded 27 in. in diameter: 

 there is one still standing in the same park, which is 37 ft. high, with a trunk 

 7 ft. 2 in. in circumference. In Thompson's Nursery at Mile End, and in 

 the arboretum at Kew, there were formerly trees between 30 ft. and 40 ft. 

 high. At Syon there is one 49 ft. high, see our plate in Vol. II. ; and 

 at White Knights there are many trees of this species from 20 ft. to 35 ft. 

 high, all planted within the last 30 years. At Cobham Hall, in Kent, 

 there is a tree 17 years planted, which is 30ft. high; and there is one of the 

 same height at Eastwell Park, in the same county. North of London there are 

 some hundreds of trees of which we have received the dimensions. They 

 grow in various soils, clayey loam, sand, prepared soil, &c. ; and, in 10 years, 

 generally accinirc the height of 15 ft., and in 20 years, of 30 ft. In Scotland, 

 the tree is usually trained against a wall; but in the neighbourhood of Dublin 

 there is a tree, 15 ft. high, growing as a standard in the Grlasnevin Garden, and 

 another, equally high, at Cypress Grove. At Oriel Temple there is a tree 35 

 years planted, which is 17 ft. high ; and one, not quite so old, at Dundalk, 27 ft. 

 high, with a trunk 20 in. in diameter, and a head 85 ft. in circumference. In 

 England these trees flower freely every year, but not quite so much so in L-e- 

 land, owing to the wood not ripening so thoroughly. 



Mag7idlvA acumindta in Foreign Countries. There are various trees of this 

 species, in the neighbourhood of Paris, from 20 ft. to 30 ft. high ; and in Bel- 

 gium there are a number still higher. In Germany, the largest tree that we 

 have had an account of is at Schwobber, where it has attained the height of 

 23 ft. It stands in the open air at Berlin, Dresden, and Vienna, but never 

 acquires a timber-like size as a standard. In the Berlin Botanic Garden it is 

 25 ft. high against a wall. In Italy, there are trees of this species in the Eng- 



