CHAPTER X. 



THE SYRINGA, OR PHILADELPHUS. 



Philadelphus was an Egyptian king in the long ago, 

 and in some way his name is fastened on these shrubs. 

 Whether he wore the flowers on his hat or in his button- 

 hole, or decorated his house with them we cannot tell, 

 but it has stuck to them ever since, and will probably to 

 the end of time. They are sometimes called Moch 

 Orange, because the flowers have the perfume of orange 

 blossoms. 



They are an exceedingly vigorous and hardy race, 

 and as they are very reasonable in price, no farm or 

 house lot should be without them. 



The little old sweet scented syringa is most generally 

 known. The flowers are small and bear no comparison 

 with those of more recent introduction. 



There are several distinct families of these shrubs, 

 and as they grow readily from seed they have a ten- 

 dency to hybridize, and so new varieties are coming to 

 the front. They have fine foliage, and often grow to 

 the height of t^^'elve or fifteen feet, and when they are 

 covered with their snowy bloom they are very attractive. 

 Some have an early and some a later time of flowering, 

 and so there is quite a succession of bloom. Some of 

 these shrubs are natives of Central Europe; some are 



