——— vO 
DAPHNE. 
184 
DATURA. 
Dahlia-rings, which are generally 
made of cast-iron ; but as these are 
rather dear, they may be imitated 
by fixing three slender stakes of 
wood, in a triangular form, and 
forming rings of split willows, which 
may be purchased of the basket- 
makers, and tying them to the stakes 
at regular distances ; or the stakes 
may be pierced with holes, and 
leaden wire, or slender laths, passed 
through them. The dwarf Dahlias 
may be pegged down so as to cover 
a bed in a systematic flower-garden ; 
and thus treated, they have a most 
beautiful effect. 
Daisy.—See Be’ ius. 
Da‘tes.— Leguminise.— Green- 
house shrubs, with pinnate leaves, 
and small pea-flowers, greatly re- 
sembling those of the wild vetches, | 
but less beautiful. The genus would 
not have been mentioned here, but 
on account of its having been the 
occasion of the name of the Dahlia 
having been changed by Wildenow 
to Georgina.—See Da'uxta. 
Dame Strove.—A name fre- 
quently applied by gardeners to 
the Bark stove ; but more prop- 
erly belonging to the Orchideous 
house, the atmosphere of which is 
kept constantly surcharged with 
moisture. 
Da'pune.—Thymeldcee.—A ge- 
nus of beautiful low shrubs, nearly 
equally remarkable for their elegant 
and often fragrant flowers, and their 
bright red, poisonous berries. The 
best known species.of the genus is 
the common Mezereon (D. Mezé- 
reum), which is so general a favour- 
ite that it has pet names in almost 
every language. The French call 
it genteel wood, and pretty wood; 
the Italians, the fair plant; the 
Germans, silky bark ; and even the 
grave Spaniards term it the lady 
laurel. In our own language, Cow- 
per, one of our sweetest poets in all 
that relates to sylvan scenery, thus 
beautifully describes it, alluding te 
‘the circumstance of its flowers ap- 
pearing before its leaves :— 
‘Though leafless, well attired and thich 
eset, F $ 
With biushing wreaths investing every 
spray.”’ 
There are two varieties, one with 
white, and the other with dark-red 
flowers. All the kinds are quite 
hardy, and will grow in any com- 
mon garden-soil; but they prefer a 
rich loam, and a shady situation. 
In the nurseries it is generally pro- 
pagated by seeds; which are often 
two years before they come up, un- 
When young plants are purchased, 
they should always be transplanted 
in October, as the sap begins to be 
in motion about Christmas; and the 
plants are almost sure to die (or at 
least to become sickly), if taken up 
after the sap has begun to move. 
The poison is aerid, and the best 
remedy, if a child should unfortu- 
nately eat the berries, is swallowing 
oil, melted butter, or milk. ‘The 
Mezereon is a native of the North 
of Europe, and it is sometimes found 
wild in England. The eommon and 
twin-flowered Spurge Laurels (D. 
Lauredia and D. pontica) are ever- 
green bushy shrubs, with dark-green 
glossy leaves, and greenish flowers, 
which they preduce about Christ- 
mas. The first is a native of Britain, 
the latter of Asia Minor. ‘They 
both require the same culture as the 
Mezereon, and the common Spurge 
laure! thrives under the drip of trees, 
where few other plants will live. 
The dwarf Daphnes are generally 
somewhat tender, with p.nk fragrant 
flowers; and D. oddra, the Chinese 
Daphne, is avery fragraut and beau- 
tiful greenhouse shrub. 
Darvu‘na.— Solanécee.— Strong- 
growing, large-leaved plants, geuer- 
ally with showy flowers. Most of 
the kinds are annuals; the best 
known of which are the common 
less sown as soon as they are ripe. — 
7 
