September, 1920 
142 
There were various plantings of 
Gladiolus seedlings, all dormant and 
still in the ground. They were strong 
looking bulbs with green tips, ready to 
start into growth when their period of 
rest was over. Pointing to one row, 
he assured us that it was “ the cream 
of the world.” Another of blue seed- 
lings, he told us, were equally superior 
in comparison with all blue varieties. 
In the lath houses and cold frames, 
were many Petunia plants, probably 
ten thousand. They were stocky, 
thrifty looking, growing plants cer- 
tainly promising wonderful flowers, 
and we regretted none were in bloom. 
He had many seedling Amaryllis, 
several of which were in bloom and 
Diener’s Giant Petunias. 
were large beautiful flowers. The 
sight of those alone were worth our 
trip there. 
After leaving the lath and green- 
houses, we entered his dwelling where 
he showed us glass jars filled with fine 
looking wheat. We also saw dried 
stalks of tall corn with several large 
ears of corn on each stalk. 
Mr. Diener is a cordial, genial man, 
brimful of enthusiasm. He is, I should 
say, a little under 50 years of age and 
began his experiments when a boy of 
14 in the Hartz Mountains in Germany. 
In addition to Gladioli, Petunias, etc., 
already mentioned, his experiments 
with wheat and corn have produced 
some remarkable results. 
Mrs. A. H. Austin. 
The Lilacs ( Syringa ) 
The Lilacs are general favorites, and there 
are few gardens, except those of very limited 
area, that do not include them amongst other 
shrubs. They are deservedly popular, for 
they do not give much trouble, grow well 
almost anywhere where the soil is loamy in 
character, and usually flower freely, the 
blooms being both attractive and fragrant. 
Moreover, they bloom at a time of year when 
the garden is at its best and the flowers have 
a beautiful setting of fresh green foliage on 
every hand. In addition to the common 
Lilac and its varieties and hybrids there are 
other species of Syringa that well deserve at- 
tention and are less well known, therefore in 
the following notes they are included as well 
as the better-known subjects. 
In the cultivation of Lilacs there are a few 
points to be borne in mind. Firstly, secure 
plants on their own roots. Varieties and 
hybrids are often grafted upon stocks of the 
ordinary Syringa vulgaris, and such plants 
are often a source of trouble by reason of 
the many suckers springing from the roots. 
These, if not removed, seriously weaken the 
plant, and may even outgrow it, whereas in 
Slower (Brower 
the case of plants on their own roots, if 
suckers are produced the growths are simi- 
lar to those of the rest of the plant. Sec- 
ondly, although Lilacs will succeed in soil of 
inferior quality, the best results can only be 
expected when the ground is good, rich loam 
being the most suitable. Pruning should take 
the form of thinning out weak wood, partic- 
ularly from the inner parts of the bushes, 
and the removal of suckers from the base of 
the plants. When bushes are becoming too 
large for their positions they can be cut back 
to the old wood with confidence of new 
shoots appearing. Wounds must, however, 
be dressed over with tar to protect them 
from fungus spores. Another point worthy 
of consideration is the application of manure- 
water to plants during the growing season 
and surface-dressing the ground above the 
roots with well decayed manure, for they are 
rank-feeding shrubs. Propagation of species 
is usually by seeds and of varieties by layer- 
ing or by cuttings. 
The various species are divided into two 
groups. In one group the flowers resemble 
those of the common Lilac. In the other 
group the flowers more closely resemble 
those of the Privet, but are in larger inflo- 
rescences. The type of this group may be 
taken as Syringa japonica. 
S. vulgaris is the best-known bush in the 
first group. It is a native of Eastern Europe 
and has been in cultivation since 1597. Asa 
rule, it is represented by bushes up to 20 feet 
high, although it may exceed that height, 
whilst it sometimes develops with a short, 
stout trunk and a large head. Even with 
type plants there is some considerable varia- 
tion in the size and shape of the inflo- 
rescences, and also in the color of the flowers, 
whilst in the varieties and hybrids the differ- 
ence is more marked. Of a very large num- 
ber of garden Lilacs the following are worthy 
examples : Single-flowered.— Alba grandiflora; 
Marie Legraye, and Noisettiana, white ; Aline 
Marqueris, reddish-purple; Charles X, rosy- 
purple ; Mme. Kreuter, bright rose ; Pasteur, 
claret-colored ; Philemon, dark red ; Princess 
Marie, pale lilac ; Souvenir de L. Spath, dark 
crimson. Double-flowered. — Alphonse Lavallee, 
bright rose ; Charles Joly, dark red ; Dr. Mas- 
ters, lilac ; Mme. Abel Chatenay and Mme. 
Lemoine, white; Michael Buchner and Presi- 
dent Carnot, lilac. 
S. Persica, the well-known Persian Lilac, is 
a dwarfer bush than S. vulgaris, and well fitted 
either for large or small gardens. Growing 
from three feet to five feet high, it forms a 
dense bush furnished with long, slender 
branches which bear elegant panicles of very 
fragrant lilac flowers freely in May. There is 
a variety, alba, with white flowers, and 
another, laciniata, with cut leaves. All blossom 
freely from the time they are a few inches 
high. 
S. chinensis, the Rouen Lilac, is a hybrid 
between S. persica and S. vulgaris, and is in- 
termediate between the two, its height be- 
ing 12 feet to 15 feet with the more slender 
branches of the Persian Lilac. It is very 
free-flowering and the blooms are deliciously 
fragrant. When well-established it is one of 
the most beautiful of all Lilacs and rarely 
fails to blossom well. 
S. Emodi, from the Himalaya, is sometimes 
called the Himalayan Lilac. It is a very vig- 
orous bush, often 18 feet high. The leaves 
are dark green above and silvery beneath. 
The flowers, in good-sized, erect panicles, 
are borne in June, and are creamy-white 
with a purplish tinge. They are not, how- 
ever, fragrant. 
5. villosa is closely allied to S. Emodi, and 
was at one time called S. Emodi var. rosea. It 
is, however, distinct in its longer and larger 
inflorescences of rosy-lilac flowers. The 
panicles average about nine inches in length, 
the finest being fully 18 inches long. It is a 
native of Northern China and is not very 
common in this country, although introduced 
about 1885. It grows at least 10 feet or 12 
feet high, and will probably attain a greater 
height. The flowers are not fragrant. 
S. pubescens, also a native of N. China, is a 
bush 15 feet high in its native country, but is 
not a satisfactory subject here, for although 
hardy so far as winter frost is concerned, it 
suffers a good deal from cold winds and frost 
in spring, and its young shoots and flower- 
buds are almost always crippled. The flow- 
ers are fragrant and white or lilac in color. , 
S. Juliance was introduced from China in 
1900. It is a slender-branched bush four feet 
or five feet high, with downy young bark, 
and bears small panicles of fragrant lilac 
flowers during late May and June. 
5. oblata, also from China, grows at least 
10 feet high, and produces lilac flowers in 
moderate-sized panicles in May. It, how- 
ever, begins to grow very early in the year, 
and more often than not both young shoots 
and flowers are seriously injured by late 
frosts. A closely allied but really more sat- 
isfactory shrub is S. afflnis, which blossoms 
with greater regularity during late April or 
early May. It bears fair-sized panicles of 
white or lilac fragrant flowers. 
S. Pinnatifolia is more interesting than 
beautiful on account of its pinnate leaves. 
The white, lilac-tinted flowers are borne in 
small panicles in May. 
S. Japonica is a representative of the group 
bearing Privet like flowers. In Japan it 
forms a small tree 30 feet high ; here it is 
usually a bush. The creamy-white flow- 
ers are borne in large, graceful panicles in 
June, and are not fragrant. Unfortunately, it 
is sometimes injured by late frosts. An allied 
plant is found in S. amurensis, which is de- 
cidedly inferior in every way. 
S. Pekinensis also belongs to the Privet- 
like or ligustrina group. It is a small tree 
20 feet high, with good sized panicles of 
creamy-white flowers. Like the others, 
young shoots and flowers are sometimes in- 
jured by late frosts. The variety pendula is 
a graceful tree with weeping branches. — 
Gardening Illustrated. (English.) 
Narcissi Naturalized. 
Few flowers show to better advantage 
when naturalized than do the various forms ; 
of Narcissus. Along woodland walks, on 
banks, and in rough grassland the charms of 
these delightful Spring flowers are displayed 
to perfection ; and we can think of nothing 
else that will give greater pleasure for so 
little expense and labor. Once established 
they will take care of themselves and make a 
fine showing for several years if the foliage 
is allowed to mature before any tidying up 
takes place. Of course all formality in plant- 
ing must be strictly avoided, such as straight 
lines and even spacing, else the pleasing 
natural effect sought for will be entirely 
spoiled. Some gardeners make it a practice 
to plant out Narcissus after they have been 
forced in the greenhouse and such clumps 
will flower splendidly the following year. It 
is really a pity that any should be thrown 
away as long as there are any empty spaces 
where they could be planted, such as in the 
shrub borders for instance, where they would 
not be in the way of anything else, but 
would bring added life and beauty before the , 
regular occupants got under way. So far as 
varieties are concerned, any of the strong 
growing kinds seem to do equally well. — ' 
Gardener’s Chronicle. 
The multiplication of varieties in 
flowers proceeds apace. There seems 
to be no end to it, and many of the 
varieties are not only no improvement 
on the older ones, but some of them 
not as good. We might write a lecture 
on this subject and we may do so at 
some future time. 
