SUMMER THOUGHTS IN WINTER 



order. Who that has seen any collection of the 

 newer lilacs (syringa) in flower would be satisfied 

 to have only the common form ? Marie Le Graye, 

 Mme. Emile Lemoine, the single and double whites, 

 Souvecir de Ludwig Spaeth, Toussaint I'Ouver- 

 ture, the wondrous purples. Belle de Nancy (almost 

 a blue), Philemon, with its great clusters of pink- 

 ish mauve — the list is only hinted at here. Lis- 

 ten to this description of Syringa sweginzowii 

 swperba : 'This superb plant was introduced from 

 Central China through the Paris Museum. Its 

 leaves, of moderate size, are dull green and sharply 

 pointed; its flowers, borne in long clusters cover- 

 ing the whole shrub in June, are of a soft flesh 

 color and deliciously fragrant; it is one of the 

 loveliest shrubs we possess.' Or this bit concern- 

 ing Syringa Emile Gentil : 'Good thyrses of large, 

 full, and imbricated flowers, bright cobalt blue, a 

 very rare shade among lilacs.' 



Who that has once stood entranced before the 

 wonderfiJ flowers of Viburnum Carlesii, that has 

 breathed its sweet and pungent fragrance, could 

 remain content to possess only Viburnum opulus ? 

 Why sit in dull satisfaction beside the ubiqui- 

 tous barberries aforesaid when such a marvel as 

 Wilson's barberry, when the charms of the several 



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