Syringa — Lilac. 2 1 1 



September or early October, and continue until winter sets 

 in, makes the plant a favorite wherever known. D. japoni- 

 cum, a native of China and Japan, grows to about half the 

 height, and produces white, pea-shaped blossoms the whole 

 length of the dense, pendulous branches, and, like penduli- 

 florum, late in September. It is an especially choice 

 species, and worthy of introduction into all our gardens 

 where autumn flowers are desired. 



SYRINGA— Lilac. 



THE genus syringa is too familiar to the general 

 public to be in need of an introduction, though 

 not many persons are familiar with its history or 

 most of its numerous representatives. The species and 

 varieties are almost everywhere known to the English- 

 speaking people as lilacs, while the true name has been 

 popularly applied to another and quite a different family 

 of shrubs to which it in no wise belongs. Though a few 

 sorts only have been widely distributed in cultivation, 

 there are yet many others, including numerous later ad- 

 ditions to the list, which are exceedingly valuable for 

 horticultural purposes and are now coming into use. 



The syringas belong to the natural order Oleace^e, and 

 as first known to botanists were supposed to be the pe- 

 culiar product of Asia Minor and the countries bordering 

 on and in the vicinity of the Black Sea. The first speci- 

 mens were brought, as early as 1597, to England, where 

 they were received with much favor and afterward 

 largely distributed. From the mother country they very 

 naturally found their way to America, and were among 



