THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



ence has been that estate owner? are prepared to recog- 

 nize the fact in a substantial manner when a man shows 

 ability and care for his emplc^yer's interests, and by in- 

 creasing our professional efficiency we shall without a 

 doubt increase the standard of pay. There always have 

 been plenty of incompetent men calling themselves gar- 

 deners who accept positions at any price and the utmost 

 discrimination should be used in recommending these 



men for positions. It is here tliat there appears to be 

 great possibilities for good in elevating the status of the 

 profession. 



It is due to ourselves and to the profession which we 

 follow that we do our utmost both individually and col- 

 lectively to make our association stand for the highest 

 professional efficiency and straight conduct and to 

 eliminate incompetency and greed. 



Lilacs at the Arnold Arboretum 



By Wm. A. Craig. 



The collection of lilacs at the Arnold Arlioretum, 

 Jamaica Plain, Mass., that ]\Iecca for tree lover's over 

 which Professor C. S. Sargent is the director, and the 

 veteran Jackson Dawson, the superintending arboricul- 

 tural genius, is undoubtedly the largest on the American 

 Continent, and is being added to yearly by AI. Lemoine's 

 newest "creations." That lilacs are the finest of all de- 

 ciduous flowering shrubs in the eastern States is so gen- 

 erally conceded that it is scarce worth arguing over, and 

 certainly it is an inspiration to annually see the throngs of 

 interested persons, many with notebooks and pencils in 

 hand, who haunt the Arboretum when lilacs are in sea- 

 son. 



A few reasons why lilacs are becoming so very popular 

 are that they are all of easy culture, that apart from scale 

 they are comparatively free from insect attacks, that their 

 foliage appears early and is retained very late, that they 

 are all of unquestioned hardiness, flower over quite a long 

 season, and possess a really remarkable range of colors. 



\\ bile some varieties such as hyacinthiflora flore pleno 

 and oblata flow'er near Boston towards the end of April in 

 an average season, Josikoea and Villosa bloom several 

 weeks after the general collection has passed, while the 

 tree varieties, Syringas Japonica and Pekinense do not 

 produce their big panicles of creamy white flowers until 

 the end of June or even later, so that by planting early, 

 late and mid-season sorts, two months of a lilac crop is 

 possible. This year the major portion of the lilacs were 

 in fine condition from May 20-28, quite a few being very 

 fresh for Memorial Day. 



About 150 varieties are included in the Arnold .Ar- 

 boretum collection, and the subjoined notes are on some 

 that seemed particularly good. Some very fine things are 

 included amongst the novelties, although it is doubtful if 

 they surpass such splendid standard varieties as Philenien, 

 Macrostachya, Marie Legraye, Mme, Lemoine and Souv. 

 de -Spoethe. Amongst the best doubles were the follow- 

 ing: 



Rciionctilc — Rather short but very compact trusses, 

 reddish lilac color, very double and early flowering variety. 



Mine. Jules Finger — Charming mid-season sort, lav- 

 ender blue, trusses produced very abundantly. 



Ma.rimc Cornu — Remarkabl\' fine trusses, lilac rose in 

 color. 



Rubella plena — Xot particularly striking, but valuable 

 as an early flowering sort, color deep pink, medium 

 trusses very freely produced. 



President Grevy — Very large trusses, clear blue color. 

 a very fine variety. 



Jean Bart — Color rose shaded with claret, a striking 

 shade, free flowering and very early. 



Michael Buchner — Splendid panicles, very double 

 and blooms with unusual freedrim, pale lilac, a good old 

 variety. 



Languis — .\n excellent pale lavender lilue varietv, nice, 

 compact habit. 



Dc Humboldt — Lilac rose, quite a desirable mid-season 

 sort. 



Comte dc Kcrchove — Immense, compact panicles, rose 

 colored flowers. 



Charles Baltet — Large truss, color rosy lilac, blooms 

 with great freedom. 



Paul Harlot — Molet red shade, trusses as large as those 

 of Philemon. 



Mme. Leon Simon — S]ilendid rosy lilac sort, fine 

 trusses. 



Souvenir de Casimir Pcrier — An excellent very double 

 pure white. 



Mme. Lemoine — Still the finest of the double pure 

 white lilacs, immense panicles, a moderately late bloomer, 

 indispensable. 



Marcclial dc Bassoinpicrc — Fine, deep carmine rose, 

 distinct shade. 



Doyen Keteleer — A sujjerb lavender blue, one of the 

 best of its shade. 



Mdlle. Le Page — Semi-double blue, quite striking. 



William Robinson — Good double violet. 



Louis Henry — Remarkably free, color clear, rosy lilac. 



Pyramidalis — A good old double lavender blue variety. 



Leon Simon — \'ery double pale blue flowers. 



Le Printenips — Pale rosy lilac, very free, compact habit. 



Jeanne d'Arc — A splendid pure white, superb trusses. 



Mme. Casimir Perier — Creamy white, very fine variety. 



Deuil d'Emile Galle — Carmine mauve, immense 

 trusses, individual flowers extra large. 



Dame Blanche — A fine acquisition in the double white 

 class. 



Emil Licbig — Small trusses, but very free and valuable 

 on account of its earliness, color lavender blue. 



Belle de Xancy — A fine old sort, light satiny rose, pole 

 centre. 



Charles Sargent — Individual flowers of great size, an 

 immense truss, but owing to weight of flowers net held 

 erect as in some other sorts. 



Amongst the singles the following were noteworthy: 



Dr. Lindley — Early medium sized trusses, good pink 

 shade, very earlw 



Cocrulca Supei'ba — Of a nice clear blue shade. ver\- at- 

 tractive. 



Marie J.egrave — Still the finest of all single white lilacs, 

 both for outdoor culture and forcing. 



Virginalis — A small but very graceful white variety. 



Alba Grandiflora — Probably Marie Legraye's closest 

 competitor, immense panicles, of pure white flowers, held 

 very erect. 



Dr. VonRegel — Large trusses of a beautiful deep ]iink 

 shade. 



Andenken an Louis Spocth — Deep purplish red, im- 

 mense trusses, a splendid old variety, one hard to beat. 



Gigantea — \'ery early, a good pale blue variety. 



Philemon — The finest of all the single dark purplish red 

 sorts, panicles of immense size, one of the finest lilacs in 

 commerce. 



