164 



IRISH GARDENING 



NOVEMBER 



The Lilacs (^Syrmga). 



Uy J. W. Bksant. 



THERE are few more popular and beau- 

 tiful shrubs than the common lilac 

 {Syriiigu vulgaris) and its many lovely 

 varieties of various colours. In most gardens, 

 large and small, specimens of lilac will be found 

 annually making' a fine display, and if well 

 treated and cared for they will endure for many 

 years. 



A rich, loamy soil suits these plants admirably, 

 and an annual dressing of decayed manure is 

 very beneficial to established specimens. To 

 ensure shapely specimens and to induce the 

 formation of flowering shoots, pruning must be 

 done ; this should take the form of thinning 

 out the shoots after flowering, and the same 

 time is suitable for applj'ing the mulching 

 mentioned above. 



In addition to the common lilac, the Persian 

 and Rouen lilacs are occasionally met with in 

 gardens, though not so frequently as they 

 might be considering their wonderful flori- 

 ferousness and quiet beauty. 



The various species of syringa should not be 

 overlooked by those in search of good shrubs 

 during the present planting season. The follow- 

 ing are worthy of notice :— 



Syringa chinensis (the Rouen lilac). — This 

 forms a fairly large bush, with rather slender 

 branches bearing small ovate leaves, and pro- 

 ducing numerous clusters of lilac or violet- 

 coloured blossoms. 



S. Evwdi. — This is a Himalajan species, and 

 a useful plant for large shrubberies. The 

 flowers are less important than those of some 

 other species, being of a pale, undecided hue, 

 but the large, handsome leaves and the sturdy, 

 vigorous habit of the plant make it well worthy 

 of inclusion. It will reach a height of eight 

 feet. There is also a variegated form. 



S. japonica.—'Y\\\?, Japanese species is a really 

 good shrub or often a small tree. It flowers 

 somewhat later than most lilacs, about the be- 

 ginning of July. Flowers creamy white, borne 

 in large panicles, while the ovate leaves are 

 relatively large and handsome. 



.S". Josikcea, from Transylvania, is another 

 strong-growing species, reaching a height of 

 eight or ten feet. The flowers are not very 

 showy, but the leaves are fairly large, broadly 

 lanceolate, and whitish on the under surface. 



.S'. oblaiti, a Chinese species, is not much met 

 with outside botanic gardens, but is quite 

 worthy of notice. The leaves are comparatively 

 large, roundish in outline, and somewhat 

 thicker in texture than those of the common 

 lilac. The flowers are of a purplish shade, and 

 very freely produced. 



S. pcrsica, though a native of Afghanistan, 

 is commonly known as the Persian lilac. This 

 is a fairly common species, and should be in 

 every garden. In habit it resembles the Rouen 

 lilac, but has smaller leaves and bluish-purple 

 flowers ; the white variety is verj- beautiful. 



S. vulgaris, the common lilac, is a native of 

 Eastern Europe, and calls for no description 

 here. The white variety is extremely beautiful, 

 while a host of beautiful, single and double 

 lorms are obtainable from most nurseries. 



Other species in cultivation at Glasnevin are 

 S. giraldi, from N. China, described as being the 

 earliest to flower, and bearing long panicles of 

 pale lilac-blossoms ; .S'. villosa, from N. China, 

 with bluish-purple flowers and ovate leaves, and 

 Syriuga pckiuctisis, resembling a privet in habit, 

 but the flowers of which I am imacquainted 

 with. 



A KRi IT grower in one of tlic provinces of France, 

 liaving" a plantation oi plum trees that failed to pro- 

 duce fruit owins^ to the destruction of the flowers by 

 early May frosts, tried the e.xperiment of retardinjf the 

 flowering period by etherizing the roots. The method 

 adopted was to dig a hole in the soil sixteen inches 

 deep, pour in ether, and then fill up the hole. The 

 effect iyi this treatment was to retiird root action and 

 delay for a fortnight the opening of the flower buds, 

 and so enable them to escape the killing influence of 

 the frosts. 



The modern system of clean cultivation in fruit plots 

 may not be the best under all conditions of soil and 

 climate. In soil having a low percentage of organic 

 matter or humus, and especiall}' in hot and dry situations, 

 the practice referred to will result in a gradual lowering 

 of the already too low percentage of organic matter to 

 the detriment of growth. This result has .'U least been 

 observed in fruit plantations in Colorado, and the device 

 of growing crops of shade plants, to be ultimately 

 ploughed or dug in, has been resorted to in order to re- 

 store organic matter to the depleted soils. Leguminous 

 crops such as clovers and vetches are the kinds selected 

 for this purpose. 



Loganberries make delicious jelly and jam. They 

 are strong growers and heavy bearers. Tliej' are 

 planted 5 or 6 feet apart, and treated like raspberries. 



