532 



THE PARKS AND GARDENS OF PARIS. [Chap. XXX. 



many fine varieties of Lilac that varied and most beautiful small 

 groups or groves could be formed of them alone. To have a Lilac 

 group, or several, or a small grove, or even a few thoroughly well- 

 grown specimens, would be infinitely better than the common 

 plan of scattering a number of plants through the shrubberies to 

 dwindle or to perish. 



As regards Lilacs in the open garden we appear to be satisfied 

 ■with the common variety. It is to be regretted that such 

 excellent kinds as Dr. Lindley and Charles X. are not planted in 

 preference to, or at least to an equal extent with, the commoner 

 kinds. These are limited to three : Syringa vulgaris, S. dubia 

 (or rothomagensis), and S. persica, with a few of their varieties ; 

 and it is one or other of these kinds we are sure to see in our 

 gardens or pleasure-grounds. In France, however, there is no 

 such poverty of selection. There Lilacs are grown more fre- 

 quently as specimens both in public and private gardens, and are 

 often carefully pruned with a view of securing finer trusses of 

 blossom. Many accustomed to the one kind so often half-starved 

 in London shrubberies, and like so many other fine hardy shrubs 

 treated as if unworthy of culture or attention, might be surprised 

 to see such a list as the following from a French catalogue of 

 handsome kinds more or less distinct. 



Alba Docteur Nobbe 



Laciiiiata Ekenholm 



Kubra Flore pleno 



*AIiue Mocqiieris Ge'ant des Batailles 



Ambroise Verschaifelt General Schmidt 



Amoena Gloire de la Kochelle 



Be'ranger *Gloire de Moulins 



*Blanc Virginal Goliath 

 *Carne a Grande Fleiir James Booth 



Charlemagne Justii 



Croix de Brahy Karlsruhensis 



*De Croncels Konig Johann 



*De Laval Langius 



*De Trianon Lovaniensis 



Delepine *Madame Kreuter 

 Doctor Lindley 



As regards the best kinds of Lilac, M. C. Baltet, who has had excellent op- 

 portunities of judging, recommends those in the above list with an asterisk affixed 

 as the kinds most worthy of culture among the varieties raised in recent years. 

 He has observed more than fifty kinds growing in his garden, and among them 

 he considers there are twenty good ones. 



Moritz Eichler 



*Phile'mon 



Pre'sideiit Massart 



Prince Imperial 



Princesse Camille de Rohan 



Princesse Marie 



Professor Stoeckhard 



Purpurea 



Kubra insignia 



Charles X. 



*Sauge' 



Spectabilis 



Triomphe d'Orleans 



Vallettiana 



*Ville de Troyes. 



