Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/29

MAGNOLIA MAGNUSSON 21 spring (April), before the leaves, are large, white, and fragrant; the leaves are obovate, pointed, and downy when young; the fruit, by the suppression of some of the carpels, is often contorted into most grotesque shapes. This tree is quite hardy in a much colder climate than that of New York, and for its large, early, fragrant flowers is a favorite with many, while others object to it on account of its naked appearance when in flower ; there is a celebrated specimen near Newburgh, over 30 ft. high, symmetrical in form, and when in bloom its flowers are estimated by thousands. It is a great favorite with the Chinese, who dwarf it, as they do other trees, by cramping the roots in small pots. A row of seedlings of this magnolia presents a great variety in foli- age, and some of these are retained in cultiva- tion under distinct names. The purple mag- nolia (M. purpurea) is a native of Japan ; in cultivation it seldom reaches above 10 ft. ; it has the same habit of early flowering with the preceding species ; the large flowers are pink- ish purple outside and white within ; the leaves are of a bright dark green ; it is somewhat less hardy than the preceding, and in cold localities is treated as a greenhouse plant. Soulange's magnolia (M. Soulangeana of the nurseries) is a hybrid between the two just noticed; the tree has the habit and hardiness of M. con- spicua, while the purple tinge in the petals shows its relationship to M. purpurea. Lenne's magnolia, of comparatively recent introduction, is supposed to be a variety of M. purpurea, from which it differs in its finer foliage and larger and more deeply colored flowers. Sev- eral other species or varieties of this group are in cultivation, but their value remains to be ascertained. There are a few other exotic spe- cies, but they are rare in our gardens. Camp- bell's magnolia (M. Campbellii}, of the Sikkim Himalayas, is described as a large tree with fine foliage, and crimson and white floAvers rivalling those of M. grandiftora in size and exceeding them in beauty. M. Kobm and M. obovata are Japanese species grown in greenhouses. M. fuscata is a small evergreen shrub with much the appearance of a camellia ; its brown stems are hairy, and its flowers, which are brownish red or purple, are exceedingly fragrant; the French call it the black-wooded magnolia on account of the dark color of its wood. This species grows in the open air in Georgia and other southern states, where it is highly prized for its fragrance, and is generally known as the banana shrub ; it there forms a dense bush 8 or 10 ft. high. The magnolias are readily raised from seeds, which germinate better if sown as soon as ripe ; if they are to be kept till spring, they must be preserved in slightly damp sand, for if allowed to become perfectly dry they will not germinate. The difficulty of removing wild trees has already been alluded to ; they form but few fibrous roots, and hence are usually looked upon by nurserymen as plants very difficult to handle ; but if nursery- grown plants are frequently transplanted du- ring their growth, fibrous roots are formed, and they can be removed with safety ; in some nurseries the trees are grown in pots, and these, though necessarily small, are quite safe for the planter to purchase, as they may be turned into the open ground without disturb- ing their roots. Magnolias are also multiplied by layers, but the tall-growing ones thus treat- ed never produce handsome-shaped trees, and those from seed are preferable. The rarer kinds, especially the Chinese, are grafted upon some species which grows readily from seed, the cucumber tree (M. acuminata) being usu- ally selected as the stock upon which to graft. Inarching is also sometimes resorted to to mul- tiply these plants. (See GEAFTING.) MAGNUS, Ednard, a German painter, born in Berlin, Jan. 7, 1799, died there, Aug. 9, 1872. He studied in Berlin and in Rome, and became known as a member and professor of the Ber- lin academy and as a portrait painter. He pub- lished Ueber Einrichtung und Beleuch tung von JRdumen zur Aufstellung von Gemalden und Sculpturen (Berlin, 1864), and Die Poly chromie vom Tcunstlerischen StandpunTcte (Bonn, 1872). MAGNUS, Heinrich Gustav, a German chemist, born in Berlin, May 2, 1802, died there, April 4, 1870. He graduated at the university of Berlin in 1827, where he became in 1834 ex- traordinary, and in 1845 ordinary professor of physics and technology. In 1828 he discovered the compound formed of the elements of chlo- ride of platinum and of ammonia, the first of a series of combinations of the same substances, and known as the green salt of Magnus. He afterward published " Researches on Capil- larity " and observations upon evaporation in capillary tubes. Almost simultaneously Mag- nus and Regnault made public the results of their experiments upon the coefficient of the dilatation of gases, the former on Nov. 25, 1841, and the latter on Dec. 13, 1841. In 1860-'61 Magnus published his experiments on the transmission of heat through gases in the double aspect of conductibility and radiation, which led to a protracted controversy with Tyndall. His last publication was a memoir on the emission, absorption, and reflection of heat by bodies at low temperatures. His lec- tures continued till near the close of his life, and for their illustration he formed the physi- cal cabinet of the university. MAGNUSSON, or Magnusen, Finn, an Icelandic scholar, born in Skalholt, Aug. 27, 1781, died in Copenhagen, Dec. 24, 1847. He studied at the university of Copenhagen, returned to Iceland in 1803, and practised as an advocate. In 1812 he went again to Copenhagen, where in 1815 he was appointed professor, and in 1819 began to lecture in the university and the academy of fine arts on the old Norse literature and mythology. In 1842 he was made keeper of the archives. He was the author of many ar- chaeological works, of which the most impor- tant are : Bidrag til nordislc Archceologie (Co-