THE ROMANCE OF OUR TREES— 
VI. THE MAGNOLIAS 
ERNEST H. WILSON 
Assistant Director, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University 
Familiar and Popular in Gardens Where Climate Permits Them to Grow Are Some of the Exotics but the 
Splendid Hardy Natives, Remnants of a Great and Widespread Forest Group, Are Almost Unknown to Us 
group 
cussed here 
IP is remark- 
able in having the 
largest flowers and 
largest undivided . 
leaves of any group 
of trees hardy in 
this climate. The 
American species all 
flower after the 
leaves are devel- 
oped and are among 
the handsomest of 
native trees. There 
are Asiatic species 
which blossom after 
the manner of the 
American kinds but 
only three of these 
are common in gar- 
dens. The Asiatic 
members which pro- 
duce their blossoms 
before the leaves 
unfold, however, are familiar and popular garden plants. Mag- 
nolias grow wild in the United States east of the Mississippi 
River and in eastern As : a from Japan westward to the Sikkim 
and Bhutan Himalayas, having their northern limit in Hokkaido 
and their southern in Malacca and Pinang. 
In all some 34 species and numerous varieties are recognized 
but only 12 species, 2 hybrids, and about half a dozen varieties 
have proved hardy as far north as Boston, Mass. The Japan- 
ese, with two exceptions (M. salicifclia and M. Watsonii) 
are hardy here; likewise the American species, except the 
noble evergreen M. grandiflcra and the dwarf M. pyramidata. 
None of the Himalayan nor the Malayan species can be 
grown out of doors in New England, and of the Chinese two 
species only. Yet these two with their numerous forms and 
hybrids are, with the Japanese M. stellata, the familiar 
Magnolias of our gardens. In the first article of this series 
the Magnolia is mentioned among the types of trees which 
in earlier geological ages were found widespread in north 
temperate regions. It is in fact an ancient type and its mem- 
bers to-day are a mere remnant of a very extensive group of 
north temperate forest trees — trees which formerly grew in 
Europe, Siberia, western North America, Canada and Green- 
land. Though much less ancient than the Ginkgo it had in 
early times a similar distribution and fossil remains are com- 
mon in Tertiary strata of the north Hemisphere. 
1 hope readers will not tire of these historical details which 
are necessary to the proper appreciation of the types selected 
for this series. 1 do not wish them to be deemed “dry as 
IS THERE A MORE FLORI FEROUS TREE? 
On the Madison, N. J., estate of Mr. Twombley their 
gorgeous bursts of bloom welcome the spring visitor 
dust'' facts, but 
tangible proofs of 
the venerable char- 
acter of these trees 
and therefore add- 
ing interest to the 
appreciation in 
which we may hold 
them. 1 want read- 
ers to look upon 
these types as 
merely selected ex- 
amples of f eve st 
growth that have 
long and nobly 
played their part in 
the world’s history 
andtothinkof them 
as we do of old art 
treasures — as 
things to be proud 
of and grateful for 
their having been 
preserved for our 
edification and en- 
joyment. And not 
for ours alone but for that of the generations which come after 
us. A nation’s finest trees should rightly be counted among 
its most prized national treasures; but of the countries of the 
world to-day, Japan alone regards ancient trees as a national 
treasure asset! Such they truly are and there is no escape 
from the punishment nature metes out to lands whose forest 
growth is destroyed. In this country the price is being ex- 
acted, and in countries like China and Korea the multiple 
interest is so great that the land groans beneath the burden. 
For in addition to timber scarcity and the shortage of fuel 
rivers become charged with silt, break their bounds, and 
destroy everything within their reach — crops, villages, the 
inhabitants, et al — when there is nothing to hold the soil on 
steep slopes under heavy rainfall. 
N‘ 
[O OTHER genus of hardy or half-hardy trees and shrubs 
can boast so many excellences as the Magnolias. The 
free-flowering qualities and great beauty of blossoms and 
foliage are only equaled by the ease with which they may be 
cultivated. All grow naturally in moist, rich woods and they 
detest drought. They will withstand considerable hardship 
and abuse, but the best results are obtained when they are 
protected from strong winds and are planted in cool, deep soil 
rich in humus. An ideal place is open moist woods. In 
Northern gardens the best time to transplant Magnolias is 
late in the spring. They may be also moved successfully in 
late August, but they must not be allowed to suffer from lack 
of water at either season, and it is always advisable to mulch 
48 
