DE MIRIBEL. S. Dark bluish violet. This is: by far the darkest of all 
our Lilacs. It is always admired by those who see it in bloom in our 
nursery because it is so distinct in color from all the others. It is one 
of the choicest in the entire line. Panicles rather slender, long, com- 
pact, and upright. Very noticeable. This is one blue you should 
really have. You will note we often have to omit this fine variety 
from our list as the demand is greater than our supply. A late va- 
riety. 2 to 3 ft., $5.00 
EDITH CAVELL. D. A very showy, creamy white; buds suffused cream 
and pale sulphur. Panicles extra large, long and cone-shaped. This 
Lilac is as large and as fine as Miss Ellen Willmott, but is a different 
type of flower. Ellen Willmott is more compact and perfect in form 
while the panicle of Edith Cavell is a trifle more open and more lace- 
like in effect. The individual florets are a trifle larger than those of 
Ellen Willmott. Every fine collection should have both. They are the 
two great double white Lilacs and it is difficult to choose between the 
two. 2 to 3 ft., $4.00; 3 to 4 ft., $5.00 
EDMOND BOSSIER. S. This is a new single red or red-purple that 
pleases us very, very much. It is the latest of the single reds except 
possibly Volcan, and it is so exceedingly soft and rich that we class 
it as a “must have” Lilac. The above was written some 4 years ago. 
Since then our Lilacs have given us 4 years more of bloom. Our show 
bushes are 4 years older. This Lilac has grown in favor. So far there 
are 3 greatest reds: Congo, medium deep red; Monge, brilliant deep 
red; and Edmond Bossier, deep dark purple-red. One is as good as 
the other but they all differ much in shade. 2 to 3 ft., $5.00 
FIRMAMENT. S. A new variety that we are not able to offer year after 
year. This year we have a limited quantity of this fine single blue 
which we believe stands right at the top among all good Lilacs. The 
panicle is large, loosely arranged, extremely dainty, and of a beau- 
tiful shade of light blue void of any trace of pink. A “must have” in 
any fine collection. 2 to 3 ft., $5.00 
GEHEIMRAT SINGLEMARK. S. A very deep blue-purple. This is a 
very dark Lilac. The long, upright panicles are made up of many 
small lobes that add to the attractiveness of the flower. The plant is 
tall and upright growing. A good variety. 
2 to 3 ft., $2.00; 3 to 4 ft., $2.50 
HENRI MARTIN. D. This beautiful blue-lavender, with its extremely 
long, graceful panicles is a variety we do not hesitate to recommend 
to anyone who wishes the best in Lilacs. Our show plants of Henri 
Martin are right by the path as we go from the office to the trial 
fields beyond. We pass it many times a day when it is in bloom and 
we always stop and marvel at its beauty. A Lilac of most beautiful 
form, with large individual florets and with panicles often measuring 
13 inches in length. 2 to 3 ft. $4.00; 3 to 4 ft., $5.00 
HIPPOLYTE MARINGER. D. Taken one year after another this is 
probably the largest of all Lilacs. Reverse of petals while in the bud 
are a deep violet-blue opening into an immense*truss of lace-like 
petals in a delightful blending of pink and delicate shades of blue and 
violet. We always classify this as one of the sensations of the 
Lilac world. 2 to 3 ft., $3.00; 3 to 4 ft., $3.50 
CONTROL OF PESTS 
PESTS: Ovystershell scale and the Lilac borer are about the only 
enemies of the Lilac. For oystershell scale use as a spray either 
lime-sulphur or an oil spray. Use liquid lime-sulphur in preference to 
dry at the rate of 1 part to 7 parts water, or if the oil spray is used, 
then at the rate of 1 part to 15 parts water. In using the oil spray be 
sure the sprayer is thoroughly cleaned out before putting in the oil. 
Lime-sulphur spray should be applied just as the buds are beginning 
to show green, while the oil spray should be used just before the 
buds show any green. 
The LILAC BORER is best handled by prevention. If bushes are 
kept well cultivated and growing, there is but little borer trouble. 
Where the borer is at work, he may be taken and killed by running 
a small wire into the hole and twisting it around to accomplish this. 
One can also shoot carbon bisulphide into the furrow of the borer 
with a medicine or fountain pen dropper; then plug up the entrance 
with putty or gum. Don’t wait until this destructive worm has de- 
stroyed a part of your Lilac bush. 
HUGO DE VRIES. 5S. One of the good Lilacs among the newer and 
better sorts, coming to us from Holland. This variety has long, slen- 
der, graceful panicles in a soft shade of dark red-purpie. 
2 to 3 ft., $4.00; 3 to 4 ft. $5.00 
JACQUES CALOT. S. Here is one of the most pleasing and satisfactory 
of all pink Lilacs. Always a very heavy bloomer. The bush is literally 
covered with fair sized nicely shaped panicles composed of florets of 
of great size. Not available until fall. 2 to 3 ft., $2.50; 3 to 4 ft., $3.00 
J. de MESSEMAKER. S. A tall, strong growing bush with heavy dark 
foliage. Trusses long, upright, pyramidal and in great profusion. 
Single florets very large. Color, which lasts a long time in the sun, is 
an intense deep, dark red-purple. Wine-red in general color effect. 
A good Lilac. 2 to 3 ft., $2.50; 3 to 4 ft., $3.00 
JEAN MACE. D. Bluish mauve. Very pretty Lilac. A tremendous 
bloomer. Immense, full panicles. It seems as though there couldn't 
be another floret crowded in. Very thrifty bush that grows erect and 
shapely, and is very ornamental even after the blooms are gone. 
2 to 3 ft., $2.00; 3 to 4 ft., $2.50 
JULES SIMON. D. An erect growing variety with very clean branches 
and heavy, clean, light green foliage. Expanding buds show much 
bright intense rose. Opening truss becomes a very rich, clear, velvety 
light blue. This variety always commands attention from our visitors 
during the blooming season. 2 to 3 ft., $2.00; 3 to 4 ft., $2.50 
KATHARINE HAVEMEYER. D. A splendid Lilac which we like more 
and more the longer we have it. It is always an outstanding variety 
among all our plantings. Trusses are immense, very full double, very 
rich and of a most beautiful mauve-pink. A very thrifty bush. One 
of the most persistent of bloomers. Nearly every 3- to 4-foot bush 
bloomed in the nursery row in 1938. One 4-foot plant had 18 large 
trusses and 3 small ones. 2 to 3 ft., $4.00; 3 to 4 ft., $5.00 
LEON GAMBETTA. D. Panicles of the greatest size. Buds and reverse 
of petals very pink, which gives the flower a general pink effect. 
Deep pink buds open into very double little rose-like florets of the 
daintiest pink and lavender. We still say it is the finest of all Lilacs 
and we want to emphasize this. There are many fine Lilacs, but we 
believe this is the most beautiful of all. 2 to 3 ft., $5.00 
MACROSTACHYA. S. One of the old varieties seldom seen nowadays. 
An upright grower with clean light green foliage. Panicles rather 
slender, held upright, a very delicate pink, almost white, irregularly 
bordered with a deeper pink. This is distinct in color from all others. 
2 to 3 ft., $3.00; 3 to 4 ft., $3.50 
MARECHAL LANNES. D. One of the most sensational and choicest of 
the entire list of French Lilacs. The panicles are large and shapely, 
composed of about the largest florets found among all the Lilacs. 
Many of them are over an inch in diameter. Color of unopened buds 
is reddish violet, of the expanded florets campanula-violet. Mrs. 
Harding says of this Lilac: ““A wonderfully beautiful Lilac.” 
2 to 3 ft., $5.00 
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 leaving 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 goes on. The 
plants grow but they received a setback from this exposure of the roots and it 
often takes two or three years to overcome this mistreatment. 
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. 
5. 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 growth 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. 
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