Evening star., 1928-03-29

rising directly from The ground In A
sort OF Clump.
The first is tho true lilac growth with
the entire system growing from the cen-
tral trunk. The other Is the product OF
suckers" which have been allowed to
thrive unmoleSted
Either way, one gets nice bush but
your average gardener much prefers
the tree-likc growth When so grown
the lilac jumps 10 feet In six or seven
years. and may even go on to be real
tree some 20 feet or more high.
A lilac hedge is one Of the most sat-
isfactory. although OF comparatively
slow growth. II Is one Of the FIRST
bushes TO get its leaves. and these are
practically immune to insects and re-
main green until frost
The lilac. above all. is a tough hardy
grower, with power 10 resist children
dogs and other intrudcrs.
Louise Bush Brown. In her book
Flowers for Every Garden says OF It:
"LilacS arc, perhaps. more universally
beloved than any other shrub. They
arc to be found everywhere-~on large
country estates. In small cottage gar
cens. and by many a humble farmhouse
door-and they are surely worthy of
affection and regard Within recent
years many new French hybrids have
been introduced into our gardens which
are very lovely In form and Coloring
Nine. Lcmoine Is particularly nne
double white variety. very fragrant and
Mmc, La Grave Is. perhaps the best Of
the single white ones
1T Is n wise plan occasionally 10 give
ones lilac bushes a top dressing Of we'll
rottcd stable manure or honemeal and
pulvcri2cd sheep manure. This top
dressing should be administered early
in the Spring before growth starts. Old
lilac bushes may be reiuvenated by this
treatment plus little wise pruning to
remove some Of the branches which
have passed their days OF usefulness,
allowing the younger, more vigorous
growth to take their places
The faded blooms OF lilacs should be
removed II not only improves the APP
pearance Of the bushes but also stimu-
lates new growth. In damp seasons
when lilac bushes are troubled with mil
dew. dust the foliage occasionally with
flowers OF sulphur. l'lacs are rather
susceptible 10 ovster-shell scale. and
ono should watch vigiantly for this In
the Spring. The best method OF con-
troll is spraying with whale-oil soap
solution The spray should be applied
in early June. as it Is then that the
scales Dreeu, ana the new soft bodies
may be most easily destroyed before
their hard, Scalv shells form"
Let no one be scared away from the
planting Of lilac bushes by these words
OF warning. Thousands upon thousands
OF bushes are growing without touch
Of the scale and even when 1t appears
II often confines itself TO a few leaves
and branches which may be cut of. In
no way hurting the bush.
The lilac and the althea Rose OF
Sharonl make up what might be termed
sure-flre duet for the average garden.
Both need plenty Of room. the lilacs
more than the altheas. perhaps Althcas
may be successfully planted as close as
: feet, or even closer, but lilacs should
be given TO 4 feet each way as a
minimum
When planting a small bush II takes
vivid imagination to picture how
large II will become in four or Ave
years. Most amateur gardeners have
not had enough experience To permit
such Installation. II will be necessary
for them TO accept a word of caution
and to refrain from placing their lilacs
In places where n height of feet or
more will cut of some desired view.