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stalks an inch and half in length. The buds of the future shoots, 

 which are very turgid before the leaves fall, are of a very bright green 

 in the White sort, but those of the other two are dark green. The 

 flowers are always produced at the ends of the shoots of the former 

 year; and below the flowers other shoots come out to succeed them; 

 as that part upon which the flowers stand decays down to the 

 shoots below every winter. There are generally two bunches or 

 panicles of flowers joined at the end of each shoot; those of the Blue 

 arc the smallest, the flowers also are smaller, and placed thinner than 

 either of the others; the bunches on the White are larger, but those 

 of the Scotch are larger still, and the flowers fairer; it of course makes 

 the best appearance: the panicles of flowers grow erect, and, being 

 intermixed with the bright green leaves, have a fine effect, which 

 with the fragrancy of the flowers, renders it one of the most beauti- 

 ful shrubs of the garden: the flowers appear early in May, or to- 

 wards the end of April, and when the season is cool continue three 

 weeks; but in hot seasons soon fade. It is supposed a native of 

 Persia. 



There are several varieties: as with white flowers, Avith blue flow- 

 ers, with purple flowers, or Scotch Lilac. 



The second species is a shrub of much lower growth than the com- 

 mon sort, seldom rising more than five or six feet high : the stems are 

 covered with a smooth brown bark: the branches are slender, plia- 

 ble, extend wide on every side, and frequently bend down where 

 they are not supported : the leaves two inches and a half long, and 

 three fourths of an inch broad, of a deep green colour : the flowers 

 in large panicles at the end of the former year's shoots, as in the for- 

 mer; of a pale blue colour, and having a very agreeable odour. 

 They appear at the end of May, soon after those of the common 

 sort, and continue longer in beauty, but do not perfect their seeds 

 in this climate. 



There are several varieties: as the common purple-flowered, white- 

 flowered, blue-flowered, and the laciniated or cut-leaved. 



Culture. These plants are mostly raised by suckers or layers, and 



