212 Ornamental Shrubs. 



the first to be thus imported and used in the colonial 

 gardens. Here, too, they were widely scattered through- 

 out town and country, and soon became so common that 

 many people have been led to suppose they were natives 

 of the soil. 



Not more than from twelve to fifteen distinct species 

 are Icnown, but these have thrown off a great number of 

 varieties, some of which are far more interesting than the 

 types from which they have sprung. As a rule, all the 

 lilacs are hardy and vigorous-growing shrubs or small 

 trees, and mostly with numerous long, straight branches 

 and large clusters of various-colored flowers. Few shrubs 

 or trees blossom more freely and uniformly from year to 

 year, and fewer still adapt themselves to greater diversi- 

 ties of soil and climate. They are at their best in early 

 spring when flowers are most welcome, and can scarcely 

 be planted amiss wherever a flowering bush or tree of 

 their proportions is desired. Though calling attention to 

 a goodly number of forms, old and new, it may well be 

 said that no list of the species and varieties can be com- 

 plete and remain so for any considerable period, inasmuch 

 as new hybrids and fresh offshoots are making their ap- 

 pearance almost every day, not all improvements on the 

 older forms. 



S. vttlgaris is the old-fashioned lilac, which is under- 

 stood to have come from Asia through the medium 

 already designated. Until within a few years it has been 

 supposed that it was nowhere a native of Europe, but of 

 late, in some of its varietal forms it has been found grow- 

 ing wild in a Hungarian forest, though it is difficult to de- 



