16 WESTERN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



LILACS. Of hardy flowering- shrubs I place the Lilac 

 family first and foremost, as it is now more widely known 

 than any other in cultivation, especially the old purple and 

 white Lilacs of our grandmothers, to which I needjiot speci- 

 ally refer. Their cultivation in Canada dates almost from 

 its first settlement, when our forefathers brought the bush 

 with them from the old homes. Ever since it has been 

 spreading- from g-arden to g-arden until it is familiar to every- 

 body. It will ever remain the most popular shrub on account 

 of hardiness, ease of propagation and culture, and its exquisite 

 perfume. Certainly nothing can exceed in beauty a good bed 

 of lilacs in blooming time, and the foliage is always hand- 

 some. The only fault that can be found with it is its tend- 

 ency to sprout from the roots. I would invite special atten- 

 tion to some of the improved but less commonly known 

 varieties which deserve to be more widely cultivated. Of 

 these varieties that have proceeded from the 'common types 

 the following may be specially mentioned : 



S. Caerala Superba. The flowers of this variety are light 

 purple in bud, but when fully open a clear blue. 



Albert the Good. Flowers of reddish purple, and is 

 considered the best of its color. 



Colmar's. Large pale blue flowers, remarkably fine, 

 glossy foliage. 



Giant. Unusually vigorous, with large leaves and flow- 

 ers, the latter of a blue color. 



Prince of Wales. Flowers purplish lilac, panicles med- 

 ium to large. 



President Grevy. A beautiful blue, individual flowers 

 very double and very large. One of the finest lilacs. 



The catalogues of Nurserymen contain scores of others, 

 not one of which will be found unworthy of culture. 



In cultivating this fine shrub it is well to arrange the 

 plants in masses on the lawn or near the boundaries of the 

 grounds. The larger the clumps the more delight they will 

 afford. 



