OUR COUNTRY LIFE 



ness; that is, after planting the trees and bushes, the 

 natural undergrowth has notbeen disturbed ; this ensures 

 an indescribably lovely tangle especially at blossom- 

 ing time. Trees bearing long sprays of lilac-colored 

 flowers are particularly attractive, and I remem- 

 ber having seen them in Madeira and Ceylon, in India 

 and Mexico. The botanical name is Melia azede- 

 rach; in our own country it is called the umbrella tree 

 or China berry, and since its introduction about a hun- 

 dred years ago, it has spread throughout the Southern 

 States. 



"What is this delicious fragrance?" asks a member 

 of the party as we simultaneously pause to look about. 

 "It's not orange or rose — or any leaf?" 



"It's this same tree," exclaims another. "You know 

 it is called the Indian lilac here." And we linger to 

 look up at its flowery expanse. 



"Let me cut some for you, it goes well with the 

 roses," remarks the experienced gardener, and plucks 

 great bunches of exquisite sprays to add to our big 

 bouquets. 



310 



