febrifuge and also as a tonic. The 

 wood itself is fine grained, and at one 

 time much used for inlaying. Gerarde 

 in his "Herball" says of the lilac that its 

 fragrance is too powerful, " Troubling 

 and molesting the head in a strange 

 manner with a ponticke and un- 

 acquainted savour." 



The merit of this shrub is attested 

 by many writers. Walter Savage 

 Landor, in his "Imaginary Conversa- 

 tions," says in condemning Italian 

 gardens, " As for shrubs, I have rarely 

 seen a lilac, a laburnum, or a mezereon 

 in any of them, and yet these flourish 

 before almost every cottage in our 

 poorest villages." This was about 

 1800. The Swiss, Henri Amiel, in his 

 journal writes, "I strolled from the 

 irises to the lilacs, round the flower- 

 beds and through the shrubberies." 

 A sweet spot in which to draw in- 

 spiration. 



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