Trees, Shrubs and Vines 



far north as New York City ; a variety of it has yellow- 

 ish markings on the leaves ; such variegations are more 

 odd than beautiful, in the estimation of some. 



Perhaps no plant so generally carries our thoughts back 

 to childhood and to the old home that possibly now ex- 

 ists only in memory, as that deliciously fragrant flower, 

 the lilac. It belongs to the year's childhood as well, 

 and all its entwined associations make it as heartily wel- 

 come as violets. If pansies are for thoughts, lilacs are 

 for memories. 



Abundant as it is, it is not indigenous in America, 

 but comes originally from Asia Minor by the way of 

 Europe. In addition to a dozen or more distinct spe- 

 cies, cultivation has produced valuable varieties, yet the 

 old-fashioned sort holds its own amid them all. The 

 lilac is said to have been introduced into more countries 

 than any other plant ; and, in view of its early bloom, 

 luxuriant clusters, exquisite fragrance, and withal, hardi- 

 ness and easy culture, this is not to be wondered at. 



In addition to many varieties developed from the orig- 

 inal species {Syri?iga vulgaris), with the different tints 

 of lilac, white, reddish-purple, crimson, blue — practi- 

 cally alike except in color — we have Persian, Chinese, 

 and Japanese lilacs, with flower single and double, of 

 various colors, and with such interblending of qualities 

 by hybridizing as to baffle even the scientist in the 

 attempt to disentangle the snarl of hereditary lines. 

 Every horticulturist has a mercenary incentive to put a 

 new variety of this and other popular plants on the mar- 

 ket ; occasionally it becomes a permanent form ; oftener 

 it reverts, sooner or later, to the original form, and 



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