LILAC. 



LILY. 



phanmal division it is reduced to a pulpy state, 

 it is formed into paper. When by different re- 

 agents all the soluble matters are extracted 

 from \vood, the insoluble residue is lignin; its 

 ultimate components are carbon, oxygen, and 

 hydrogen, the two latter elements being in the ! 

 same relative proportions as in water; so that 

 woody fibre may be considered as a compound i 

 of carbon and water, and, according to Dr. 

 Prout's experiments, almost exactly in equal 

 weights. Lignin is very unperishable, but 

 under certain circumstances it is attacked by 

 dry rot, arising out of the growth of a parasitic 

 fungus, which causes its rapid decay. Damp 

 timber, in situations where air has not free 

 access, is particularly subject to its attacks ; 

 and \\ hen once it has made its appearance, the 

 well-seasoned timber in its neighbourhood be- 

 comes liable to the same disease. The dry rot 

 may be prevented by impregnating the timber 

 with certain saline solutions, and of these, so- 

 lution of corrosive sublimate has been found 

 most effectual ; this (the bi-chloride of mer- 

 cury) combines chemically with the albumen 

 of the wood, and the compound is very inde- 

 structible. (See Diir ROT.) Lignin has also 

 a strong attraction tor alumina, and hence 

 linen, cotton, paper, and other forms of this 

 fibre, may be aluminized by steeping them in 

 hydrated alumina diffused through water, or 

 more effectively by soaking them in certain 

 aluminous solutions, drying them, and after- 

 wards washing out the excess of the salt. It 

 is in this way that cotton goods are impreg- 

 nated with alumina for the purpose of dyeing 

 and calico printing. Other metallic oxides ex- 

 hibit similar attractive powers, especially the 

 oxide of iron. The analogy that exists between 

 the composition of sugar, gum, starch, and 

 even vinegar and lignin, suggests the possi- 

 bility of the conversion of those substances, by 

 an exchange of their proximate elements, into 

 each other; and it has accordingly been found 

 that by carefully roasting pure and fine saw- 

 dust, it is rendered partially soluble in water, 

 and that a part of it is converted into a nutri- 

 tious substance, probably intermediate between 

 sugar and starch, and which, when mixe<l with 

 a little flour, yields a palatable bread, not very 

 unlike that made by some of the inhabitants 

 of the northern parts of Europe of the bark of 

 trees. Mixed with sulphuric acid, lignin passes 

 into gum, and from this sugar may be obtained, 

 by boiling it for some hours in a very dilute 

 sulphuric acid; this sugar, when purified, 

 much resembles grape or honey sugar. By 

 this process, rags may be converted into nearly 

 their own weight of this peculiar saccharine 

 matter. 



The production of vinegar by the destructive 

 distillation of wood, was originally suggested 

 about the middle of the 17th century, by Glau- 

 ber, a celebrated German chemist of that time ; 

 it has lately become a very important branch 

 of manufacture in England. Upon the whole, 

 there are very few natural products equally 

 important with lignin in their applications to 

 the useful and ornamental arts. See Prno- 

 UGXEOUS ACID. 



LILAC (Syringa, from syrinx, a pipe. The 

 90 



branches are long and straight, and are filled 

 with medulla; hence the old name of the lilac, 

 pipe-tree. The English name of the genus is 

 from lilac or lilag, the Persian word for the 

 flower). The species of lilac are well known 

 elegant shrubs. 



The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is a 

 shrub originally from Constantinople, growing 

 to the height of 18 or 20 feet. The elegant 

 lilac-coloured bunches of flowers are very 

 sweet and graceful to the eye. There is also 

 the white lilac, still more delicate-looking, and 

 equally sweet-scented. The most beautiful 

 variety of the common purple lilac is that 

 known by the title of the Scotch lilac. 



The Chinese lilac (S. chinensis] is a native 

 of China, and less in size than the common 

 lilac; it was first brought to this country in 

 1795. Blooms violet-coloured flowers in May. 



The Persian lilac (S. persica) is a native of 

 Persia, and seldom exceeds five or six feet in 

 height, blowing light purplish pink flowers in 

 May. The lilacs love a good garden soil, and 

 may be propagated by layers, shoots, and 

 suckers from the roots. 



LILY (Lilium, derived from the Celtic word 

 /i, signifying whiteness; on account of the 

 beautiful white flowers of the original species). 

 This is a fine ornamental and well-known ge- 

 nus of exotic plants, almost all of which are 

 remarkable for the delicacy and beauty of their 

 flowers. Most of the species succeed in a 

 rich, light soil, but the American species 

 should be grown in peat. (Paxton's Bot. Diet.) 



Miller, in his Dictionary, mentions 13 spe- 

 cies, with their varieties : but there are now 

 more than 34 known species, besides innume- 

 rable varieties : the finest for garden ornament 

 are as follows: 



The superb martagon (L.superbum). A beau- 

 tiful plant, blowing many bright orange flowers 

 spotted with violet. It loves bog soil. 



Purple martagon, which grows 3 or 4 feet 

 high, blooming reddish or white flowers spot- 

 ted with purple. It blows in July. It is some- 

 times called Turk's cap. It is a native of 

 Germany. 



Scarlet martagon (L. chakedonintm). Native 

 of the Levant, blowing a bright scarlet flower 

 in June and July. It likes a good soil. 



Turk's turban (L. pomponiurn), blows a pretty 

 pendulous red flower in June, in the shape of 

 a turban. In Kamschatka the bulb of this spe- 

 cies is cultivated the same as the potato is in 

 this country. 



Orange or fire lily (L. bulbiferum). Large 

 flower, of a deep orange colour, flowering in 

 June and July. The Russians and Tungusians 

 also eat the roots of this species, either boiled 

 in milk or roasted. A German author informs 

 us that these mealy roots might, in times of 

 scarcity, be made into wholesome bread. The 

 roots are cathartic, and the leaves cooling. 



Tiger lily (L. tigrinum). A beautiful showy 

 bulb, blowing an orange flower in June : it 

 loves a sandy soil and open situation. 



Philadelphian lily (L. Philadelphicurn). Na- 

 tive of North America, blowing a deep orange 

 spotted or scarlet flower in July. This very 

 elegant plant may be known from the oth> 

 3o2 713 



