The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-25

ton given the plants the larger will be
the Hover clusters and the more pro-
fuse the blooms. Do not crowd them
either. They need plenty Of room for
best results
Lilacs give the best account of them
selves in rather cold sections. In
warmer regions they are commonly af-
tected with mildew, SO that they need
10 be kept sprayed with bordeaux mix
ture or some other remedy.
When buying Iflacs be sure to get
those on their own roots and not those
grown on other stock. Then the plan
tation can be renewed by allowing
suckers to come up from the roots.
Old plants that have become over
grown or leggy may be cut down al
most to the ground and will grow up
again in we'll shaped bushes. Named
varieties are sometimes grated on the
common stock, and all too often the
suckers which come up from the roots
crowd out the original plants. Graft
ing on privet Is also practised to some
extent. but own root plants are by far
the most desirable.
Botanically the iAac is called by the
name Of Syringa. which sometimes
confuses the amateur who knows the
shrubs which are properly called Phila-
delphus under that name. When 60
ing through the catalogues 1t Is i'm
portant to remember that the Philadel-
plus Is really the so-called Syringa or
mock orange, while the Syringa is the
lilac.
A Hungarian lilac called Josikaea
has come to have @ somewhat senti-
mental value and ID frequently ordered
for collections, but it is really inferior
to many OF the other kinds and is not
to be recommended to the amateur.
The Persian lilac is also in favor. and
makes a pretty plant. Among the
earliest of the lilacs to flower is q
Chinese species called Syringa pubes-
Gems. which was introduced by DR..
E. Bretschneider through the Arnold
Arboretum.
1t is one OF the handsomest OF the
lilacs, with pale, fragrant blossoms,
and we'll worth a place in the garden.
Another excellent Chinese lilac, but one
which comes late and Is more COM
mon in gardens, Is called Syringa vii
losa. 1t makes a fine. round topped
bush and has rose colored flowers
which are both handsome and abun-
dant. While the flowers Of pubeecens
are remarkably sweet. those Of vlllosa
are distinctly disagreeable in odor, al
though this fact Is not perceived ex-
cept when a special effort is made to
catch the scent. Pubescens being
among the first to bloom and villosa
among the very last. these two species
are worthy of special attention.
Quite similar to villosa, although
taller, is S. wolff. which first came
into cultivation in Russia. Among the
more recent of the Chinese lilacs is s.
sweginzowii. compact shrub with
handsome flowers which though almost
white when open are flesh colored in
the bud. Among the different varie-
ties OF the common lilac which have
proved to be distinctly worth while are
the following. Madame Lemoine and
Miss Ellen Willmott, double white:
macrostachya, pink; Marie Legraye
and Princess Alexandra, single white;
Charles X, rosy lilac; Justi and ceru-
lea superba, blue; Congo, Ludwig
Spath, Negro and Toussaint LOWER
ture. dark purple.
After the lilacs have blossomed It is
desirable that the flower heads be re-
moved. This will result in more and
better flowers the following season.
For the rest the care OF the lilacs is
simple, and these plants arc we'll worth
all that can be said In their favor.