It is remarkable how soon lazy nature catches up with her neglected work when she has a mind to. Near Philadelphia the lilac is the gauge of the season. Let the season be early or late, all is generally made up by the first of May. Rare indeed is it not to find a lilac in bloom by the first of May. This season, however, it was in default. On the fifth of May, however, the double purple lilac had a few flowers open. This was the first of the season. The old white, old purple, and many other varieties did not appear till some days after.