THE ARNOLD ARBORETUM 41 



the gardener, often resulting in the development of beautiful new 

 forms, which come spontaneously. Such a natural hybrid is 

 Mains Arnoldiana. It appeared a few years ago among the seed- 

 lings of fioribunda, and promises to be a welcome addition to our 

 gardens. Many persons consider this to be the handsomest of all 

 ornamental crabs. Its flowers and fruit are twice as large as those 

 of Mains fioribunda. 



Some of the Pear trees are almost as attractive as the crabs. 

 Pyrus Calleryana is not among the handsomest and the fruit is of 

 no value. It is believed, though, that this tree offers special 

 advantages to American pomologists, who are seeking a stock 

 resistant to blight on which to graft garden Pears. Pear trees are 

 natives of Europe, China, and the Himalayas. There are no 

 native American Pears. Some of the Chinese species have been 

 growing in the Arboretum since 1882, when Dr. Bretschneider 

 sent seeds there from Peking. 



It is when the Lilacs are in bloom that the greatest number of 

 people visit the Arnold Arboretum, probably because of the fame 

 which has been given the Lilac show by the newspapers. lilacs 

 are used as a border along one side of Bussey Road, not far from 

 the Forest Hills entrance. Manj^ people speak of this section of 

 the road as Lilac Drive. In late May, when the Lilac show is at 

 its height, thousands of people come to the Arboretum to see the 

 magnificent burst of bloom. Altogether, though, there are almost 

 two months in which the Lilacs are in flower in the collection, 

 including nearly every species and variety of the common Lilac 

 alone, with twenty species in addition and several hybrids. 



In his various expeditions, Mr. Wilson has discovered a number 

 of extra-fine Lilacs, one of the best being Syringa Jtdianae, a hardy 

 and very shapely shrub, with dark green foliage, and compact 

 clusters of fragrant, pale rose-colored flow^ers. It is particularly' 

 valuable as it blooms later than most true Lilacs. While sweet, 

 it lacks the strong fragrance of yuhesceyis, which is the most frag- 

 rant of all the Lilacs. In respect to perfume, however, even 

 pubescens will soon have a rival, for during the last trip of Mr, 

 Wilson through the far East, he discovered a Lilac in Korea which 

 he says is more fragrant than any which has yet been grown on the 

 American continent. In about five years this statement can be 



