213 



Virginia Pk lOd Waldeck-Rousseau Pk lOd 



Viviand-Morel Pk 10<1 William Robinson PkDs 14d 



Volcan Rd 15 Wolfi Villos 2 



vulgaris Vulgar 3 W. W. Smith Pk 9 



vulgaris alba Wh 7 yunnanensis Villos 2 



CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION OF LILACS 



])Y Montague Free 



So IE 



It would seem that practically every authority on lilac culture, 

 and every writer on the subject (including this one), makes a state- 

 ment to the effect that lilacs prefer a rich, well-drained loam. Such 

 assertions, however, should not deter anyone from planting lilacs 

 even though his soil is not first class. As a matter of fact, some 

 of the best flowering lilacs I have ever seen were growing in soil 

 which would be considered well below the average in fertility. 



While lilacs are fairly tolerant so far as soil acidity is concerned 

 there is little doubt that they prefer one well supplied with lime. 

 I remember the late Leonard Barron, whose capabilities as a grower 

 were fully equal to bis fame as a garden writer and editor, telling 

 me that if lilacs failed to do well one should at once suspect soil 

 acidity and apply lime freely, far beyond the usual amount. 



In preparing the soil for planting it should, if poor, be dug up to 

 a depth of eighteen inches over an area of at least one square yard 

 and have mixed with it a three-inch layer of rotted manure and 

 one-half pound of bonemeal. If manure is not available use leaf- 

 mold or sedge peat. Acid peatmoss may be used if it is neutralized 

 by mixing one-half pound of pulverized limestone with each bushel. 



Time oe Planting 



Lilacs can be planted at any season, but the best time is when 

 they are dormant in fall or spring, provided that the ground is 

 workable — not frozen and not too wet. Here in the Brooklyn 

 Botanic Garden we prefer to plant them in the fall because at that 

 time the soil is usually friable, moist, and in an ideal condition for 



