134 EXPERIMENTAL EAR MS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



8. vulgaris, Madame Abel Chatenay. — Double. This is the finest double white 

 lilac which has bloomed here. The trusses are of good size and the flowers double, 

 pure white and of good substance. It is a most attractive variety and should be in 

 every collection. Another double white variety called Madame Casimir Perier is said 

 to be better, but this has not bloomed here yet. 



S. vulgaris, Charles Baltet. — Double. A very free blooming variety with large 

 flowers which are purplish lilac in the centre and approaching a pink shade towards 

 the outside. Blooms in the last week of May. 



8. vulgaris, La Tour d'Auvergne. — Double. This variety is at its best when 

 part of the flowers are open and some still in bud, as there is a great contrast in the 

 colour of the bud and the expanded flower. There are several shades of lilac in this 

 variety, varying from light to dark. Blooms in last week of May. 



S. vulgaris, Comte Horace de Choiseul. — Double. A free blooming double variety 

 with a compact truss and attractive lilac flowers. Blooms in the fourth week of May. 



S. vulgaris, Alba Grandiflora. — Single. This is a great improvement on the 

 common white lilac, being a much freer bloomer and having a large truss and larger 

 flowers. Very good. Blooms during the fourth week of May. Frau Bertha Damman 

 is another fine single white variety. 



8. vulgaris, Dr. Maillot. — Double. This is the latest flowering of all the varie- 

 ties of S. vulgaris which have blossomed here and is one of the best. It is a free 

 blooming variety with large trusses and exceptionally large double flowers of a very 

 delicate pinkish purple. At its best during the first week of June. Very desirable 

 for keeping up a succession of bloom. 



Syringa dblaia, Lindl. — This species was introduced to cultivation in 1S59 and 

 is a native of China. The foliage of this lilac is very attractive, the leaves being 

 large and of a dark, glossy green colour ; their shape also differs very much from 

 other species, being heart shaped. The flowers are not unlike those of the common 

 lilac, but have more of a pinkish tinge than most of the varieties of that species. 

 Desirable on account of its attractive foliage. There is said to be a white variety of 

 this species, but it has not yet been tested here. 



Syringa persica, L. (Persian lilac). — This species, as its name indicates, is a 

 native of Persia, and was introduced to cultivation in 1640. It is not as robust a 

 grower as the common lilac nor evidently as hardy, having gradually died out at the 

 Experimental Farm. It is a small growing species, usually only reaching a height 

 of five or six feet. The leaves are smaller than those of the common lilac which 

 give it a more graceful habit. The flowers are of a bluish purple colour, not particu- 

 larly attractive, and are borne in loose panicles. This species blooms during the 

 fourth week of May while the common lilac is still in flower. There is a white and 

 a cut-leaved variety, neither of which have yet done well here. 



Syringa chinensis, Willd (Rouen lilac). — Thought to be a hybrid betwen 8. per- 

 sica and S. vulgaris, of which it has more the character of the former. It was in- 

 troduced in 1795. Other names for this lilac are S. rothomagensis and 8. dubia. 

 This is a beautiful species, being a much stronger grower than S. persica and having 

 better coloured flowers. It grows from six to eight feet in eight and has foliage 

 intermediate in character between S. persica and 8. vulgaris. It is a very free 

 bloomer, the flowers being borne in large, loose panicles and are of an attractive 

 purplish violet colour. It blooms a little later than the Persian, but at the same 

 time as some of the varieties of the common lilac. 



Syringa Josihcea, Jacq. Josika's lilac. — Closely following the common lilac in 

 time of blooming is this species, which is a native of Hungary, introduced to cultiva- 

 tion in 1835. If this species flowered at the same time as the common lilac it would 



