XXI 



SYRINGA, OR MOCK ORANGE 

 PHILADELPHIA 



Philadelphus coronarius . Common Syringa, or Mock Orange 

 gordonianus . Gordon Syringa 



grandiflorus . - Large-flowered Syringa 



hirsutus . . Hairy Syringa 



microphyllus . Small-leaved Syringa 



Lemoinei = P. coronarius x P. microphyllus 



I 



shrub of fragrance! A joy to many, an- 

 athema to some, the Common Syringa has one 

 of those vivid personalities that strongly attract 

 or strongly repel. " Dear Syringa ! " says E. V. B., 

 " best hated and best loved of flowers. The lovers of 

 it hail its blooming with enthusiasm, and break off 

 sprigs to wear as they pass the bush, whilst others 

 will go the other way round to avoid passing near." 

 It is one of the few shrubs one could count them on 

 the fingers of both hands that have graced English 

 gardens for centuries. Gerard, in Queen Elizabeth's 

 days, tells us that he had it growing in his garden 

 " in very great plenty " ; and a curious little flashlight 

 on a certain June evening over three hundred years 

 ago is given us when he speaks of the salient char- 

 acteristic of the shrub, " A pleasant sweet smell, but in 



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