89 



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, whi eh may be purchased 

 of the basket-makers, andtyingthem 

 to the stakes at regular distances ; or 

 the stakes may be pierced with holes, 

 and leaden wire or slender lath s passed 

 throiigh 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 eliect. 



Daisy. — See Be'llis. 



Da'lea. — Leguraindsie. — Green- 

 house shrubs, with pinnate leaves, 

 and small pea-flowers, greatly resem- 

 bling those of the wild vetches, but 

 less beaixtiful. 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 Willdenow to Georgiua. — 

 See Da'hlia. 



Damp Stove. — A name frequently 

 applied by gardeners to the bark 

 stove ; but more properly belonging 

 to the Orchideous house, the atmos- 

 phere of which is kept constantly 

 surcharged with moisture. 



Da'phne. — Thymdacece. — A 

 genus of beautiful low shrubs, nearly 

 equally remarkable for their elegant 

 and cften fragrant flowers and their 

 bright red poisonous berries. The 

 best known species of the genus is 

 the common Mezerecn (i>. Meze- 

 reum), which is so general a favourite 

 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, Cowpei-, one of our sweetest 

 poets in all that relates to sylvan 

 scenery, thus beautifully describes 

 it, alhiding to the circumstance of 



I its flowers appearing before its 

 , leaves : — 



I "Though leafless, well attii-ed and 

 I thick beset 



I With blushing- wreaths investing 



eveiy spray. " 



There are several varieties, one 

 with white flowers and yellow berries, 

 and the others with red flowers of 

 various shades. All the kinds are 

 quite hardy, and will grow in any 

 common garden -soil, but they prefer 

 a rich loam, rnd a shady situation. 

 In the nurseries they are generally 

 propagated by seeds, which are often 

 two years before they come up, unless 

 sown as soon as they are ripe. When 

 young plants are purchased, they 

 should always be transplanted in? 

 Oc*^ober, 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 of the berries and the 

 inner bark is acrid, and the best 

 remedy, if a child should unfor- 

 tunately eat the berries, is swallovr- 

 ing oil, melted butter, or milk. The 

 Mezereon is a native of the North of 

 Europe, and it is sometimes found 

 wild in England. The common and. 

 twin-flowered Spurge Laurels {D. 

 Laiireola and D. pontlca) are ever- 

 green bushy shrubs, with dark- green 

 glossy leaves, and greenish flowers, 

 which they produce about Christmas. 

 The first is a native of Britain, the 

 latter of Asia Jlinor. They both 

 I require the same culture as the 

 j Mezereon, and the common Spurge 

 I Laurel thrives under the drip of 

 : trees, where few other plants will 

 live. The dwarf Daphnes are gene- 

 I rally somewhat tender, with pink 

 I fragrant flowers ; and I), odora, the 

 j Chinese Daphne, is a very fragrant 

 ! and beautiful greenhouse shrub. D. 

 ' Foi'tuni, a new species, introduced in 



