Beautiful Flowering Shrubs 



meaning " flower," and came with it from the East. 

 " May Flower " refers to the date of its flowering. 

 " Prince's Feathers," a pretty Cornish name, is obviously 

 due to its plumes of flowers. " Oysters " is not easy 

 to explain. " Spanish Ash " is probably due to the 

 fact that the Lilac was often grafted on the ash. Why 

 it should sometimes be called " Roman Willow " is 

 difficult to say. 



But in spite of its " at-homeness," in this country, 

 with every cottager growing it and no palace garden 

 complete without it, it has never established itself wild 

 here. Short of that, however, where is it not found ? 



"And close beside the gateway, 



Tall, upon either hand, 

 Their green robes shot with sunlight, 



Like queens the Lilacs stand. 

 And one is crowned with purple, 



And one is crowned with white ; 

 Look ! where the wind is passing 



They bow to left and right. 

 And trails of scent they scatter 



As royal gifts to all, 

 To every creature dwelling 



Within the garden wall." 



(Violet Jacob) 



And because these trails of scent have a somewhat 

 rare and exclusive property about them, the Lilacs seem 

 to make a special appeal to sentiment ; " the first whiff 

 of their perfume in the garden is as the very heart and 



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