SUMMER IN THE GARDEN 165 



The linnet and the throstle^ too, and after dark the long halloo, 

 And golden-eyed tu-whit, tu-whoo of owls that ogle London. 



For Noah hardly knew a bird of any kind that isn't heard 

 At Kew, at Kew in Lilac-time (and oh, so near to London !) ; 

 And when the rose begins to pout, and all the chestnut spires 



are out. 

 You'll hear the rest without a doubt all chorussing for London. 



The ordinary lilac is not overshadowed by any 

 of its varieties. There is a tenderness of colouring 

 in the flowers and a sweetness of scent that make 

 this still one of the best shrubs for town and 

 country gardens. Here is a list of the best lilacs 

 which I thought may be useful. Of the single 

 sorts possessing very fragrant flowers : Marie 

 Legraye, white ; Mathieu de Dombasle, iilac-blue, 

 the spike very large ; Charles X., deep-red ; Mme. 

 Kreuter, red ; La Tour d'Auvergne, deep lilac ; 

 Mile. Fernande Viger, white; Delphine, deep 

 purple-blue ; Lovaniensis, flesh colour ; Souv. de 

 Louis Spath, deep red, one of the darkest of the 

 better known lilacs ; and Camille de Rohan, deep 

 red. Of the double lilacs : Francois Morel, lilac ; 

 Mme. Jules Finger, of a lilac shade also ; 

 Alphonse Lavallee, Mme. Abel Chatenay, white. 



