CROSSINGS MADE AT NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, PARIS. 223 
Muséum had introduced it from China into France in 1880, and it first 
flowered in 1886. It was natural, therefore, that this establishment 
should occupy itself first with this species. It will be seen that our 
attempts in this direction were not without result. 
The same with Syringa pubescens, introduced by us at the same time 
and from the same source (first flowering in 1885). Here our efforts, 
without being absolutely without result, have not had so much success. 
The Ligustrina, all uniformly white, would certainly gain in interest 
if we could succeed in giving them other colours; but the numerous 
attempts which we have made to this end have so far completely failed. 
This, however, will not prevent us from persevering. 
The origin of the Varin Lilac and other Lilacs of the same group 
(Syringa dubia) has remained for a long time uncertain. Some 
botanists considered the Varin Lilac to be a species introduced from 
China, others that it was a hybrid between Syringa vulgaris and 
S. persica. A careful examination of the shrub caused me to adopt this 
latter opinion. It appeared to me interesting to reconstitute this Lilac 
by crossing the Persian Lilac with the common Lilac. There resulted 
three plants which presented absolutely the characters of Syringa dubia. 
Unfortunately these plants died before flowering. But at the same 
time whilst I was working, and without any concerted co-operation, M. 
Lemoine, of Nancy, pursued the same course in order to obtain a double- 
flowered Varin Lilac. More fortunate than I was, he succeeded in 
flowering his seedling in 1887. The hybrid origin of the Varin Lilac 
was thus confirmed (see page 299). 
If Lilacs have been obtained in a certain way, hitherto by crossing 
Syringa persica with Syringa vulgaris, it does not appear that anyone 
has ever attempted to obtain an inverse cross. This I have now done, 
and I possess to-day a series of young plants thus obtained. They are 
vigorous, and afford us good hope. 
1. Syringa Bretschneideri (Hort.); syn. S. Emodi rosea (Max. 
Cornu), S. villosa (Sarg. not Vahl.). Crossed with Syringa 
Josikea (Jacq.). 
Object.—To obtain deeper colours. 
This crossing I began on May 20, 1890, and lave repeated for several 
years upon a certain number of inflorescences with variable results. 
Fertilisations of 1890—231 plants obtained. 
The flowering commenced with two plants in 1896, and since then 
some fifty have flowered. 
Fertilisations of 1894—35 plants, which began to flower in 1899. 
Characters of the Lilacs produced by this cross : 
Habit closely resembles that of S. Bretschneideri. 
Leaves smaller and less firm than on this latter, larger than on S. 
Josikea, bearing hairs upon the under side, as in S. Bretschneideri (in 
S. Josikea the leaves are glabrous). 
Inflorescence in form the same as in S. Bretschneideri: that is to say, 
much longer and more branched than in S. Josikea, and moreover fuller 
and better furnished, pyramidal and in open panicles, rachis and petiole 
tinted violet and plum colour as in S. Josikea. 
