THANK YOU! 
In this same space in G. A, 1948 we explained our reasons for possibly discontinu- 
ing these booklets after issuing them for 15 consecutive years, but said we would leave the 
decision to our readers, The response was both gratifying and astonishing, — the latter 
because we got far more replies than expected. As they came at the height of the busy 
season we were unable to acknowledge them at that time but now take this chance to thank 
most sincerely those who were kind enough to write us. 
Practically every letter strongly urged us to continue G. A., and many reported that 
they had saved every copy received and valued them highly for reference. 
Our present idea is to continue with certain modifications among which will be to 
lessen somewhat the general reading matter and in each issue to cover some group very 
thoroughly so that it will be a miniature ‘‘handbook’’ for the chosen topic which this year 
is Lilacs. 
nik hope this plan will please our readers and, as always, suggestions will be gladly 
received, 
SPECIAL TOPIC 
LILACS 
In this country anyway the lilac ranks very high in sentimental appeal. How often 
cited are the “old fashioned lilacs that grew in grandmother’s New England garden’! 
These were of course the plain natural form of Syringa vulgaris, the only recognized varia- 
tion being the white variety. From these was developed the magnificent group of named 
varieties so commonly referred to as “French Hybrids.” This, however, is a misnomer as 
practically none are hybrids. The “French” part arises from the fact that almost all the 
remarkable improvement is due to the work started by Victor Lemoine (1823-1911) and 
continued by his son Emile Lemoine (1862-1942) at Nancy, France. A little further work 
has been done by others in France and Germany. In this country the chief workers have 
been John Dunbar of Rochester, N. Y., and Theo. Havemeyer of Glen Head, Long Island. 
While, generally speaking, lilac is synonymous with Syringa vulgaris, there are ac- 
tually about 15 other species but only one, S. oblata, hybridizes readily with it. Plant 
breeders, particularly in Canada (Isabella Preston and F. L. Skinner), have improved 
some of the other species by both selection and hybridization. These seem to have been de- 
veloped at least in part with a view to obtaining increased hardiness and also something en- 
tirely different ‘from lilacs as generally known, but this very fact seems to have hindered 
their general acceptance to such an extent that ‘‘lilac’’ almost universally means a form of S. 
vulgaris and its few hybrids with S, oblata. 
As a result of the work of the Lemoines and others the size of flowers and clusters 
and particularly the range of colors have been greatly increased. The whole situation is 
very thoroughly covered by that excellent brochure L7lacs for America, published in 1942. 
From it several points of great importance may be gleaned. As all varieties are rated for 
excellence it will quickly be observed that with a very few exceptions the highest rated 
varieties are the more recent ones which is exactly what might be expected. 
Another interesting point is that while in certain color tones there are a great many 
varieties, in others there are almost none and most of these have low ratings which clearly 
shows that in spite of the several hundred named varieties on record there is still plenty of 
room for further serious work by plant breeders in spite of the opinion sometimes expressed 
that “there are too many varieties on the market now.” This is true, but the answer lies not 
in stopping efforts for improvement but in discarding the inferior outworn varieties which 
clutter up so many current nursery lists and replacing them with later and superior ones. 
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