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fttagnolia granbitlora. Natural Order: Mcignoliacece—Magnolia Family. 
=qF all the flowers bestowed upon the South, there is none to 
which a Southerner refers with more pride than to the blos¬ 
soms of this elegant tree. The Magnolia grandiflora flourishes 
throughout most of the Gulf States and on the Atlantic coast 
as far north as North Carolina. It grows chiefly in swampy 
(jj lands, yet attains its greatest height in a light, fertile soil, 
; where, if planted by itself, it will assume the shape of a perfect pyra- 
. 'yg) mid. The leaves are evergreen, the old ones forming a striking con¬ 
trast to the young and tender foliage, which is of a much lighter shade. 
The flowers are of the purest white, about eight or nine inches in 
diameter, and fill the air with their honeyed fragrance. As the slight¬ 
'll est injury causes the blossom to soon turn brown, they have often been 
y <^ } used as a medium of communication between lovers or friends. It was 
only necessary to write the message with some pointed instrument on one of 
the broad petals, and cause the flowers to be delivered in a bouquet to the 
person desired, and the wounded parts would soon betray the secret committed 
to the floral page. 
Jnutc of T^iilunr 
ATATURE is man’s best teacher. She unfolds 
’ Her treasures to his search, unseals his eye, 
Illumes his mind, and purifies his heart. 
An influence breathes from all the sights and sounds 
Of her existence; she is wisdom’s self. — street. 
LOVE thee for the blossoms and the bees, 
The hills, the vales, the mountains and the seas; 
The winds, the clouds, the skies of azure blue, 
The moon, the stars, and planets circling through; 
LA NATURE! how in every charm supreme! 
^ Whose votaries feast on raptures ever new! 
O! for the voice and fire of seraphim, 
To sing thy glories with devotion due! —Beattie. 
The earth, the sun, and everything that’s fair, 
Above, below, all round and everywhere — 
The soul, the mind, to their Creator call, 
To him, the Father, First and Last of all. 
— Lalee. 
'T'HE green earth sends its incense up 
A From every mountain shrine — 
From every flower and dewy cup 
That greeteth the sunshine. —Whittier. 
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