Lignum- Vitse 



(15) 



Lilac 



LIGNUM-VITJE. 



This name, meaning " wood Of life," was given 

 long ago to the dark-coloured, dense, and hard 

 heart-wood of (iuaiacum officinale, in reference to 

 its durability The tree is a small one, and found 

 in tropical America. For pulley blocks, pestles, 

 rulers, etc., Lignum-Vitas is extensively used. 



LIGULARIA. 



A .small group of hardy, yellow-flowered peren- 

 nials (ord. Composite) that are now referred to 



^^^^^^^^^H 

 Pltoto : Cassell A Company, Ltd. 



LILAC MAKIE LEOUAYE (see p. 16). 



the genus Senecio. They succeed in light soil, and 

 are easily increased by cuttings under a hand-light, 

 from seeds, or by division. 



Principal Species : 



Hodgsoui, 3', Je., yel. 



macrophyllii, 4', Jy., yel. 



LIGUSTRUM. (PRIVET.) 



Description. A large genus of mostly hardy 

 evergreen or deciduous shrubs (ord. dleaceaa), 

 found in Europe, Asia, and Australia. They are 

 characterised by having opposite, usually more or 

 less oval, leaves, a bushy habit, and panicles of 

 white or cream coloured flowers. The majority of 

 the species are useful subjects for the garden or 

 shrubbery, and vulgaris and ovalifolimn form two 

 of the most useful hedge plants, growing well in 

 almost any situation and under adverse circum- 



Liijustrina amuremis (see Syr'uujajajnmii-a}. 



stances. The golden variety of ovalifolium is one 

 of the prettiest of hardy, ornamental-leaved shrub?, 

 and is now largely used for isolated specimens, 

 beds, groups in shrubberies and for hedges, and in 

 all cases behaves in a satisfactory manner. It is 

 a first-rate town plant. Ibota, japonicum, lucidum, 

 Quihoui, and sinense make really good, late 

 summer and early autumn flowering plants, and 

 are worthy of extended cultivation. 



Propagation. Cuttings of most of the species, 

 from 9" to 12" in length, taken in autumn and 

 winter, root readily in a border out of doors or in a 

 cold frame. Coriaceum, japonicum, and lucidum 

 are more difficult to root, and succeed best if taken 

 in July and inserted in sandy soil in a close case 

 indoors. 



Soil Almost any soil is suitable. 



Other Cultural Points. As most of the species 

 make large, mat-like masses of fibrous roots, which 

 spread for a considerable distance beyond the 

 radius of the branches, it is advisable not to plant 

 very close to slower-growing, choicer shrubs, and 

 it is also desirable to annually cut through the 

 roots with a spade at a reasonable distance from 

 the stem, so as to keep them within bounds. 

 Frequent pruning with the stronger growers is 

 necessary. When used for hedges, the two species 

 previously mentioned which, by the way, are more 

 often spoken of as Privet than anything else 

 should be used separately. Good, bushy plants, 

 2J' high, should be selected and planted 1' apart 

 in a single row ; if an exceptionally wide hedge is 

 required, a double row maybe made. Privet hedges 

 must be kept cut hard back, at least two clippings 

 a year being necessary. The variegated form of 

 the oval-leaved Privet is now grown as bushes and 

 standards for decorative work in winter. 



Principal Species : 



Ibota, G' to 8', Aug., Sep., 



wh.; a good flowering 



species of thick, bushy 



habit (*//. amureuse 



of gardeus, ciliatum, 



obtusifolium, regelia- 



num,Eoxburghii of gar- 

 dens, aucl Stauntoni). 

 ovalifolium of Hassk, 15', 



sum., wh. (*//*. amur- 



ense of Carr., ovatum, 



and reticulatnm of gar- 

 dens). Oval - leaved 

 Privet. 



foliis Miir-i. 



Quihoui, 6' to 8', Aug., 

 wh. (syn. brachystach- 

 ium). 



sinense, 10' to 12', Jy., 

 wh., (xt/ns. chinense, 

 Fni-tunei, froudosum, 

 villosum).' 



Other Species and Varieties : 



coriaceum, 5', sum., wh. aureo-variegatum. 



(\'/>/. lucidum coria- 

 ceum). 

 insulare, 6', Jy-, cream 



(M/J/*. angustifolium, 



insulense, linearis, and 



longifolium). 

 japonicum, 3' to 8', Jy., 



wh. (ii/ns. bullatum, 



glabrum, kelleriiinuin, 



lucidum of gardens, 



macrophyllum, Kox- 

 bui-ghii. and Sieboldi). 



lucidum, 12 , Aug., wh. 



Alivoni. 



tricolor. 



medium, 5', Jy., wh. 



strougylophylium, 3" to 

 24", sum., wh. ; a 

 curious-growing shrub. 



vulgare, 6 to 12', sum., 

 cream; there are Severn! 

 vars., of which the fol- 

 lowing are the best : 

 aureum, buxifolium, 

 glaucum.italicum varie- 

 gatum. Common Privet. 



Walked, 6' to 8', sum., 

 hlf-hdy., wh. 



LILAC. 



The popular name applied to various species of 

 Syringa (ord,. Oleacese). The species to which the 

 terra is most often applied are persica and vulgaris, 

 the former a dwarf, free-flowering shrub, 3' to 5 

 high, the latter well known to everyone by reason of 

 its huge panicles of fragrant white or lilac flowers. 



