October 9, 1909 



HORTICULTURE 



499 



cult to choose those which can be called the best, each 

 variety having peculiarities which distinguish it from 

 the others, and yet, when all are placed loguthc-r, there 

 is perhaps a similarity or likeness; still there is enough 

 variation to constitute a difference, and certainly they 

 are all marvelously beautiful, and planted separately or 

 in groups, they will be highly ornamental and interest- 

 ing. 



The lilac may be employed advantageously in a 

 variety of ways; for hedges, screens, massing, for shut- 

 ting out objectionable views and hiding unsightly build- 

 ings — or when planted alone, it mtikes a good bush, it 

 g^ows rapidly, flowers profusely, has good thick foliage, 

 is free from insects and always looks well. 



In lilac time we should be able to keep the house con- 

 tinuously decorated with blooms placed in large, deep 

 vases to hold the long stems. Lilac time should be cele- 

 brated in every home, and made a feature marking a 

 period which can not only be looked forward to with 

 delightful anticipation, but recurred to as an event with 

 pleasant memories. 



Lilac Princess Alexandra 



Other remarkable double sorts of Lenioine's may be 

 named as follows : 



Belle de Xancy, delicate satiny rose color; Charles 

 Joly, large panicle, flowers reddish purple; Comte de 

 Kerehove, large, compact panicles — flowers ashy rose 

 color; Madame Abel Chatena)', pure white — this is a 

 gem. Emile Lemoine, beautiful lilac-rose ; Louis Hen- 

 ry, violet-rose — distinct shade ; Prince de Beauvan, very 

 large panicles — flow'ers slaty color shaded with violet ; 

 Madame Casimir Perier, another double white — beauti- 

 ful; Alphonse Lavalle, very large panicles, beautiful 

 blue shaded violet ; De Humboldt, flowers violet rosy pur- 

 ple ; La Tour d'Auvergne, flowers very double and large, 

 violet-purple; Marochal de Bassompierre, rose, velvety 

 bud; President Carnot, pale lilac; Souvenir de L. Thi- 

 baut, flowers very large, round, regular, red, with re- 

 verse of petals white; Maxime Cornu, lilac-rose. I 

 might enumerate several other doubles, all of them in- 

 teresting and exceedingly beautiful, but it would make 

 this list too long. 



Coming to the singles, there is Princess Alexandra — 



pure white, with large, long panicles. The plant is very 

 vigorous, grows erect and flowers very freely. It is by 

 far the best single white lilac. It originated in Canada 

 and was sent out by Ellwanger & Barry some years ago. 

 Marie Legraye is another white, quite well known and 

 much prized, but it is a dwarf grower. Cserulea superba, 

 introduced by Ellwanger & Barry many years ago, holds 

 its own, and may still be regarded as one of the best of 

 its color, which is a beautiful blue. 



The Rouen Lilac — or Eothmagensis, is an old variety 

 wliich should not be overlooked. It has reddish flowers 

 in large panicles, and the habit of the shrub is singular- 

 ly graceful. Lovaniensis is a beautiful pink sort, and 

 Jacques Calot is another of a similar shade — both are 

 distinct and charming. Ludwig Spaeth is a superb dark 

 sort, as is Congo, of a vinous red color. Gloire de Lor- 

 raine, red in bud, lilac when open : Eouge de Trianon, 

 reddish lilac; Geant des Battailes, lilac with red; Aline 

 Mocquoery, purplish red, very fine. 



I could name a number of others of recent introduc- 

 tion which will be highly prized by flower lovers, but 

 they are not yet to be obtained in the nurseries, so that 

 it would not be advisable to refer to them at present. 



Lovers of the lilac can have the flowering season con- 

 siderably extended by planting villosa and Japonica, the 

 former light purple, and the latter creamy white, but 

 odorless. Japonica attains to the size of a small tree 

 and bears great panicles of flowers in midsummer. 

 Neither has the delicate perfume for which the lilac is 

 so much esteemed, but flowering, as they do, some weeks 

 after the others, they will be found very useful and orna- 

 mental. 



As I have already stated the lilac improves with age, 

 old bushes being literally covered with blooms. Some 

 varieties are shy bloomers while young, and we occasion- 

 ally hear of instances where planters have become impa- 

 tient at the tardy flowering of the plants, while other 

 varieties blossom freely even while young. 



The lilac needs little pruning, except that occasionally 

 the knife may be employed to keep the plant in good 

 shape. It is a good plan to remove the faded blooms 

 at the end of the flowering season. 



As the lilac starts to grow. early in the spring it is 

 best to plant early, and fall planting may be strongly rec- 

 ommended where possible. 



The lilac endures bad treatment but responds quickly 

 to care, and the blooms are greatly improved on plants 

 which have received proper attention. 



I hope in the near future to submit a supplementary 

 list containing many remarkable kinds which are sure to 

 receive from the public prompt apprectiation, when their 

 beauties can be seen and their merits understood. 



Rochester, N. Y 



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