536 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



SYRINGA (LILAC) 



(See also Philadelphus) 



The Lilacs are favorites with everybody and in spite of all the 

 many fine new sorts which have been introduced during the past 

 thirty years, the old-fashioned, common Lilac is by most of us 

 considered the best of all. It may bloom and remain in good shape 

 for only one short week in the year, yet that one week of Lilacs 

 means more to many people than twenty weeks of something else. 



To have a good number of Lilac plants coming on is always a 

 good investment for the retail grower in a country town. The plants 

 cannot help but grow into money. They become, if given plenty of 

 room, more valuable every year. There are always people who will 

 not object to paying a high price for large specimens; they had rather 

 pay that price and get an immediate effect than pay less and wait 

 for results. 



A Lilac ten or fifteen years old, which has been transplanted 

 several times, can be moved with a ball of soil even when in fuU 

 bloom; if kept watered, it will go on growing. As with the Spiraeas, 



Fig. 277. — Lilacs in Pots. The forcing of Lilacs into bloom under glass is an easy 

 matter and requires merely heat and water — ^that is, if you have to start with pot- 

 grown stock, such as the plants shown here 



