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MONTAIGNE. D. Those who like large blooms will find in Montaigne 
a flower to their heart’s desire. The bush is very tall and upright. The 
blooms carried at the top of the stems are simply amazing. From 
memory, we would describe the color as a soft, almost uniform 
creamy pink, with just a faint suggestion of rose. A strong grower. 
Panicles 13 to 14 inches long. 2 to 3 ft., $3.00; 3 to 4 ft., $4.00 
OLIVIER DE SERRES. D. A clear, clean, uniform light blue with un- 
opened buds a deep violet. The bush is tall and a good grower. The 
large double florets are packed closely on the stem. Panicles are very 
large and the general effect of the plant when in full bloom is simply 
amazing. To see this variety at its very best wait until your plant is 
well established. We class it as a Lilac of the very highest quality. 
2 to 3 ft., $4.00; 3 to 4 ft., $5.00 
PAUL THIRION. D. Although this Lilac was first sent out in 1915, 
it is still very scarce. Of all the Lilacs we would say that this one, 
taken from a distance, is the richest looking. The trusses are large 
and composed of very double florets of an intense claret-rose. The’ 
buds are bright rich red, not purple. A red blending into rose. 
2 to 3 ft., $5.00 
PRESIDENT FALLIERES. D. A lavender-rose marked with white. Pan- 
icles large, loose and showy. Very large. This Lilac is classed by many 
as one of the very choicest of Lilacs. It carries those delicate orchid 
shades so many love. Somewhat similar to Leon Gambetta but with 
smaller florets. 3 to 4 ft., $4.00 
PRESIDENT GREVY. D. Light blue. Immense panicles; very double and 
symmetrical. A clear, soft, delicate blue—President Grevy is one of the 
older sorts and still one of the most desirable. 3 to 4 ft., $2.00 
Why Lilacs May Fail to Bloom 
We are asked a number of times during the course of the year, 
“Why do my Lilacs fail to bloom?” 
It is impossible to answer this question satisfactorily by letter. 
There are a number of reasons why Lilacs fail to bloom. We 
cannot tell which special reason is applicable in each individual 
case. We are giving a number of causes in this catalog and leav- 
ing you to decide which of these fit your individual problem. 
We have no difficulty here at the nursery. Our plants are 
loaded with flowers each year and if your plants are not giving 
satisfactory bloom, some one of the following causes must be 
responsible. 
1. Your plants may not have been handled carefully enough when you made 
your planting. The roots may have been exposed to the air and some of the 
vitality of the plant weakened. A bundle of Lilacs comes to you and this 
bundle is often opened up and the plants separated and looked over. Then they 
are laid out in the sun or shade while the holes for them are dug and the 
planting gocs on. The plants grow but they received a setback from this ex- 
posure of the roots and it often takes 2 or 3 years to overcome this mistreat- 
ment. 
2. It may be the roots were not spread out carefully and soil packed tightly 
about them at planting time. The roots may have become jammed in a cramped 
and twisted mass in the hole, and growth stunted. In filling in the hole dry 
dirt may have been pulled in over the roots and so reduced the vitality of the 
plant as to check its right growth for several years. 
3. The young plant may be planted so close to trees or larger shrubs as to 
rob it of much of its vitality. 
4. It may be in too much shade or in dry gravelly soil. Lilacs like a rich 
heavy soil but not a wet acid soil. 
3. It may be your plants are making altogether too much growth and that 
such growth needs checking. Or they may have formed a great mass of heavy 
branches from the ground with a tremendous branchy top growth and have 
reached a point. where they have stopped going forward and produce no bloom. 
If your plants are making a very rapid growth, sending out long new shoots 
with no bloom, go through your plants about the middle of June and trim out 
about one-half of the new growths back to the old wood. , This will have a 
tendency to cause blooming buds to set on the balance of the new growth for 
the next year. If your bushes have a great many branches from the ground and 
many short top branches go through your plants in March in the north or 
earlier in the south (before the sap starts) and cut out about one-half of the 
old branches to the ground. This will cause a new growth which no doubt will 
bring the plant into heavy blooming. 
Now any of the foregoing causes might be the reason your Lilacs are not 
blooming. You are in a position to analyze your difficulty much better than 
we. We have no further information to offer. 
A tag giving full directions for the planting and care of your Lilacs is 
attached to every order of Lilacs that leaves our packing department. Watch 
for this card. Read it carefully before you open your package and then follow 
directions. Keep this card in your files and consult it if you need our advice. 
BRAND PEONY FARMS 


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The varieties Berryer, Mme. F. Morel and Presiden: Fallieres are 
in the field and we may not be able to dig these varieties before 
April Ist. Do not order these three if you wish your stock earlier. 

PRESIDENT LOUBET. D. Red. One of the very choicest. Medium 
height plant. Panicles appear rather small just as the florets begin 
to open but they slowly develop as the florets continue to open until 
they become immense. A bright red in the bud stage, but showing 
considerable white on the inner edge of the opened petal. 
2 to 3 ft., $3.00 
PRESIDENT POINCARE. D. Very thrifty plant, grows into a large, 
heavy-limbed bush. Panicles large to very large, globular, made up 
of many lobes. Petals very large, purplish red on outside, turning to 
lavender-blue as they open. An immense and impressive bloom. Mag- 
nificent fits this variety nicely. 2 to 3 ft., $2.00; 3 to 4 ft., $2.50 
PRESIDENT VIGER. D. A tall, upright, shapely growing Lilac with 
long, rather narrow, cone-shaped panicles held erect on the bush. 
Color purple tipped deep pink in the bud, fading to a soft mauve. 
2 to 3 ft., $2.00; 3 to 4 ft., $2.50. 
SOUV. de LUDWIG SPAETH. S. Red. Although one of the oldest of 
the improved Lilacs still it is one of the very best Lilacs grown. It 
seems impossible to get a red that has so many good, and so few bad 
qualities as Ludwig Spaeth. Panicles long and held erect well out from 
the foliage. Color a brilliant intense rich purple-red, that holds up 
well in the sun and lasts a long time. Bush large and a very profuse 
bloomer. A wonderful Lilac. 2 to 3 ft., $1.50; 3 to 4 ft., 2.00 
STADTGARTNER ROTHPLETZ. D. An upright growing shrub with 
long, cone-shaped panicles. A rich red-purple. Until recently Charles 
Joly has been our only good double red. We have in Stadtgartner 
Rothpletz another fine red, giving bloom later than Charles Joly. 
2 to 3 ft., $3.00 
THUNBERG. D. Very large, long, slender spikes, generally two to the 
panicle. Buds and reverse of florets a violet-mauve with a reddish 
appearance from a distance. Florets are large;.open a light lilac, twist- 
ing and turning as they open, so that the color of the bud is inter- 
mingled with that of the inside of the petals, making a very striking 
Lilac. Late. ' 
2 to 3 ft., $3.00; 3 to 4 ft., $3.50; 4 to 5 ft., $4.00; 5 to 6 ft., $5.00 
VESTALE. S. One of the best and most graceful of all the single whites. 
Trusses very large at base tapering gracefully to a point, making a 
true cone. Pure rich white. Will satisfy the most exacting. 
2 to 3 ft., 3.00; 3 to 4 ft., $3.50 
VICTOR LEMOINE. D. This is about the most wonderful of all the 
French Lilacs. It is no wonder that Victor Lemoine, the originator, 
give to it his own name. We class it as one of the three or four very 
best. Florets are very double like little double Roses. These are gath- 
ered into panicles of the largest size, and the color effect is simply 
indescribable. The general effect is a soft rosy pink overlaid with a 
delicate blue-lavender. This is also one of the very latest to bloom. 
It is a self color. It is a great Lilac. Each year our’stock is exhausted 
before shipping season is over. 2 to 3 ft., $5.00. 
VIOLETTA. D. A deep violet-blue—a very unusual color combination. 
Panicles are open and the individual florets large and of great sub- 
stance. Our stock is always limited and we can supply early orders 
only. Strong, 2 to 3 ft., $5.00 
VOLCAN. S. A true deep red-purple. Panicles which are very long, 
large, and shapely, come up well above the foliage. These panicles 
look rather open in the bud stage but as the florets develop they open 
into attractive panicles. It is the latest of all the red-purples. 
2 to 3 ft., $1.50; 3 to 4 ft., $2.00 
Our Lilac Display 
If you wish to see one of the finest displays of French Lilacs in the 
country, come to our nursery the last two weeks in May. You will see 
panicles of French Lilacs that actually measure 13 inches in length. 
Our Persian Hedge is well worth driving many miles to see. Our 
grounds are always open to visitors. At this same time you will also 
see hundreds of varieties of Iris in full bloom. 
Many people bring their cameras and take pictures of our Lilacs 
in their natural colors. Always bring a pair of old shoes along. 


