DECIDUOUS TREES. 
377 
requiring shade and the coolness of other vegetation near it to 
protect and develop its best character, this species will grow to 
large size in open ground (if the soil be deep, rich, and shaded), 
and the noble massing of its foliage is excelled by no other tree. 
The leaves are quite small compared with our American species 
of magnolia ; but though less showy separately, they break into 
finer masses. 
From all the information we have, it seems to us that this is 
the most valuable of all the foreign magnolias, and quite as hardy 
as any of the family. At Rochester, N. Y., though less luxuriant 
in its development than near New York and Philadelphia, it bears 
the winter with no protection. 
The Magnolia speciosa differs principally from the M. Soulati- 
geana in being of more upright habit, and blooming ten days 
later. 
The Purple- flowered Magnolia. M. purpurea. — A lov/. 
spreading shrub, from four to eight feet high, and greater propor- 
tional breadth, noted for the fine masses of its very glossy deep- 
green leaves. These are from five to six inches long, widest in the 
middle, pointed at both ends, with wavy edges, and very glossy. 
Color, a pure dark-green. Flowers in April and May in profusion, 
and many scattered blossoms again in August and later ; form, 
cup-shaped, three or four inches in diameter ; color, purple, shad- 
ing into white. Almost hardy in the climate of New York, and 
does well where protected from wind and sun on the roots ^ as it 
requires a moist, cool soil. One of the richest foliaged of shrubs 
for a shady border. 
The Magnolia gracilis^ is a smaller variety of the M. purpurea, 
with darker-colored flowers. 
Thompson’s Magnolia, A/i Thompsoniana, is reputed to be a 
cross between the M. glauca and the M. tripetela, and is considered 
sufficiently distinct to be desirable in a collection. It blooms in 
June, several weeks later than the M. Soulangeana. 
A deep, porous, moist soil, not cold, but shaded from the direct 
MS 
