484 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
] large; sepal (hood) coni ith an obli mouth, 
cere slightly curved, e Farro lateral sepals decurvod, 
- ind the tip; 
acuminate, concave. а, жөр, ан me oen a : 
to 2%. South Africa, 1880. Syn. D. macrantha, of gardens. 
(B. M. 6529.) 3 
x ^ ret ape vory many doie ronal epal orech 
; petals much smaller than the erect, and partially 
by the upper sepal, linear-oblong, tip obtuse and in- 
acute, slightly constricted above the base. September. /. 
Bu cca a RIP 
= ui b 
DISANDRA. А synonym of Sibthorpia (which see). 
DISBUDDING. By this term is meant the removal 
of superfluous buds, flowers, or shoots, in the early stages 
of growth, from fruit or other trees, in order to divert 
the sap into those which are stronger, and required to 
remain either for the production of branches, flowers, or 
fruits of superior quality. It is of necessity very largely 
praetised with fruit-trees, under glass, that have to be 
kept within а limited area, and where the crop of fruit 
and continued vigour of the trees are annually matters 
of very great importance. The branches of Figs, Peaches, 
and Vines, amongst many others, are each year so full of 
young shoots in spring, or at other seasons, when started 
into growth, that if all were allowed to remain, the 
result would be a dense thicket of useless branches. 
Disbudding should always be performed with judgment, 
and only by those who. understand it, as irreparable 
damage may easily be caused by the uninitiated. The 
- operation should be commenced as soon as the young 
buds or shoots are large enough to pinch out with the 
finger and thumb, and the process should be frequently 
repeated, rather than remove too much ata time. Many 
plants may, with advantage, be disbudded occasionally to 
thin the branches, for admitting more light and air, or 
for inducing a more compact habit. Disbudding of flowers, 
where crowded, if earefully performed when in an early 
stage, may also be recommended in some cases. 
DISCARIA (from diskos a disk; ; i 
largo and fioshy). SYN. Tetrapasma. ORD. hamus 
shrubs. One is a native of. = 
Zealand; all the rest are extra-tropic er of How 
They are closely allied to Colletia (which see for cul. 
D. 
flowered, Lf y- 
site, obovate, minute, quite entire, % аа орро- 
leafless, pubescent ; branchlets E e e. almost 
MM. Аманы Ө simple, spiny. А. 2ft. 
D. serratifolia (saw-leaved)* f. greenish - white, in axilla " 
tufts, very fragrant. June. l i ; 
h. of. to lon. prige an E those of a Broom” t gw 
| subject for t or as a , spiny. 
wall, GC ns, oh) SYN Plant for a conservato 
Sng from beneath Yoo oper от 
SYN. Colletia serratifolia, ry 
(Toumatou). Wild Iri VON _. 
; an 
С BMISCHIDIA (from dischides, bwisi eh m 
‘to the bifid segments of the corona). зона 
opposite 
the joints. 
corollas small, urceolate ; | 
Dischidia—continued. 
September. 7. oblong-lanceolate, two-edged, flat. India, 1818. 
(B. M. 2916.) 
D. nummularia (Moneywort-leaved). jl. very small, in little 
sessile, axillary or interpetiolar clusters; calyx segments minute, 
corolla under one-and-a-half lines long ; tube inflated ; lobes 
narrow, longer than the tube; corona segments subulate. 
August. J. on very short petioles, nearly orbicular, thick, fleshy, 
not exceeding jin. in diameter. A. біп. Queensland. A suc- 
culent milky-juiced epiphyte, more or less mealy-white. 5 
DISCOID. When, in Composite, the ray-florets are 
suppressed, the head of flowers is said to be Discoid. 
DISCOLOR. Parts having one surface of one 
colour, and the other of another. 
DISEASES. Many plants are subject to no Disease, 
although they may be particularly so to insect pests. 
Others, again, are susceptible to Disease at any stage of 
growth, and when it is often very difficult to know the 
cause from which the evil proceeds. Canker, Gumming, 
and Mildew are destructive Diseases to fruit-trees and 
plants. The cause of the first cannot be traced in many 
cases; while in others it may be discovered too late for 
applying a remedy, even if this were practicable. Gum- 
ming and Mildew are caused by Fungi. The progress 
of Disease in plants may often be stopped if measures 
are taken, when it is first detected, to find and, if possible, 
remove the cause. When once established; it is far more 
difficult to cure, or even check; fatal results being often 
the ultimate consequence. 
forces acting apparently under such opposite conditions 
in similar or different plants, it is impossible to give 
instructions for their prevention generally. A cold and 
undrained soil, or that which is excessively rich, sudden 
changes of temperature, improper pruning, draughts, or, 
on the other hand, a too close or moist atmosphere, with 
many other like conditions, tend to promote Disease, and 
should be always guarded against Diseases arising from 
the growth of a fungus on any parts of plants, are often 
greatly encouraged by а warm, moist atmosphere. Some 
of this description are amongst the most destructive, 
and, as a rule, it is very difficult or impossible to 
effect а cure, when they become established. The fungi 
which are more or less superficial in their growth—that 
is to say, live on the surface of the tissues—may be 
checked by dusting with sulphur, &c.; those, like the 
Potato Disease (Peronospora), for instance, which send 
their threads into the body of the host plant, cannot 
be destroyed by any such means. 
DISEMMA. This genus is now merged into Passi- 
flora (which see). 
DISK. Any organ between the stamens and ovary, 
generally sealy or annular. 'The central tubular flowers 
of Composite are also called the Disk. 
DISOCACTUS (from dis, two, isos, equal, and Cactos; 
in allusion to the number of the sepals and petals being 
constantly twice two). ORD. Cactee. This is now united 
with Phyllocactus, from the other members of which genus 
it only differs in its fewer sepals and petals. 
DISPORUM (from dis, double, and poros, a pore; 
application not stated). Including Prosartes. ORD- 
Liliacew. A genus of about a dozen species of hardy 
perennial herbs, natives of North America and ‘the moun- 
tains of tropical Asia. Flowers solitary or clustered, at the 
tips of the branches. Leaves alternate, sessile or shortly 
stalked, ovate or lanceolate. Stems creeping, spreading, 
or erect from an underground rhi sparingly branched, 
leafy. The species thrive in a moist peaty border, and 
prefer partial shade. Propagated by seeds, or by dividing 
ihe plants in spring, before active growth commences. 
D. fulvum (tawny). А synonym of D. pullum. 
D. Hookerii (Hooker). Л. greenish, one to six; segmen 
кы 
jin. long, narrowed at base; stamens nearly 
little exceeding, the perianth. 4. ovate, mostly 
Diseases being caused by ——— 
