28 
in diameter and very conspicuous, as they stand well above the ends of 
the branches. This Magnolia is a native of the southern Appalachian 
region, and, although it has not been found yet growing naturally north 
of southwestern Virginia, it is perfectly hardy in eastern Massachu- 
setts. The flowers of the Cucumber-tree, M. acuminata, and of M. 
cordata soon follow and are already beginning to open. The American 
Magnolias were once highly prized, especially in Europe, as ornamental 
trees, but, with the exception of M. macrophylla and M. acuminata, 
they are now difficult to find in American nurseries, although as a 
group few trees are better worth a place in northern parks and gar- 
dens. The American Magnolias are on the right hand side and close 
to the Jamaica Plain entrance. 
Syringa pubescens. Attention is called again to this Lilac from 
northern China, for it is still too little known, although some persons 
who know it best consider that it is better worth a place in the gar- 
den than any other species or variety of Lilac. It is a native of north- 
ern China, and is a tall shrub with erect stems, small leaves, and broad 
clusters of pale lilac-colored flowers remarkable for the long tube of the 
corolla and for their delicate fragrance. For this fragrance, if for no 
other reason, this Lilac should find a place in every northern garden. 
The plant in the Arboretum collection is now covered with opening 
flowers. 
Prunus Padus, var. commutata. This variety of the Old World Bird 
Cherry is probably a native of eastern Siberia or Manchuria, and is inter- 
esting in the fact that it puts forth its leaves ten or twelve days earlier 
than any other tree in eastern Massachusetts. It blooms, too, two 
weeks earlier than the American or the other Old World Bird Cherries. 
The pure white flowers are borne in long pendant racemes and are 
exceedingly fragrant. The fruit is not known here. The seed from 
which this plant was raised was sent from the Botanic Garden at Pet- 
rograd in 1878, incorrectly named Prunus Maackii, under which name 
the young plants were distributed from the Arboretum, and as Prunus 
Maackii it is still cultivated and much esteemed in some Illinois gar- 
dens. Prunus Padus, var. commutata, has also been cultivated in this 
country under the name of Prunus Gray ana which is a Japanese Bird 
Cherry still rarely found in American gardens. It is one of the hand- 
somest arborescent shrubs or small trees of its class; it grows with re- 
markable rapidity, is perfectly hardy and never fails to produce great 
crops of flowers. Although the early leaves have never been injured 
here, in regions where severe spring frosts prevail they might be de- 
stroyed. 
Prunus Maackii. The true Prunus Maackii is in bloom. It is a tree 
with a well-formed trunk covered with bright orange-coloredjbark sepa- 
rating readily into thin plates, short erect clusters of small white flow- 
ers, and small black fruit. The only interesting things about this tree 
are its Birch-like bark which differs from that of any other Bird Cherry 
and its rarity in gardens. It can be seen near the entrance to the Shrub 
Collection at the Forest Hills Gate. There are other specimens in the 
mixed plantation near the top of Peter’s Hill. 
