1308 



AUBORETUM AND FRLTICETUM. 



PAUT 11 f. 



Knglaml ; growing to tlit; hciglit of 4 ft., aiul Howcriiigin February, March, 

 or April. 



J'firicfies. 



St D. M. 2 Jlore dlho has white Howers and \ ellow fruit. 

 * 1). M. 3 (iiitumnalc. — Tliis is a remarkably clis>tinct variety, not fas- 

 tigiate in its mode of growth, but spreading; also with larger leaves 

 than the species, and |)roducing its flowers in autumn. These are 

 very seldom succeeded by fruit, as might be expected from the season 

 at which they are produced. It is a most desirable shrub, being 

 connnonly covered with its gay pinkish i)lossoms from November to 

 March. It is rare in the nurseries about London ; anil is [)rincipally 

 propagated by the Messrs. Backhouse of York. 

 Description^ ^-c. The mezereon is a well-known shrub, much valued in 

 our gardens ami shrubberies for the beauty both of its flowers and fruit. It 

 produces its agreeably fragrant flowers in February or March, before the 

 leaves; when, as Cowper has beautifully expressed it, its branches are 



" Though leafless, well attired, and thick beset 

 With blushing wreaths, investing every spray." Task, book v. 



The whole shrub is poisonous to human beings, 

 though the berries are a favourite food for finches, 

 and other birtls, more especially the robin. The 

 bark is powerfully acrid : it is used in France for 

 forming setons or slight blisters, and is very effica- 

 cious in cases where it is thought desirable to pro- 

 duce a slight serous discharge, without raising a 

 large blister. When either the bark or berries are 

 chewed, they produce violent and long-continued 

 heat and irritation in the mouth and throat. The 

 mezereon is sometimes used in medicine ; but it 

 requires to be administered by a skilful hand. 

 When the berries have been eaten by children or 

 others, accidcutall3', the best remedies are oil, fresh \^^ - 

 butter, linseed tea, milk, or some other kuid of^J^nri 

 emollient, to allay the violence of the inflammation. 

 The branches of this plant afford a yellow dye. The 

 mezereon is of very easy culture. It is generally 

 propagated by seeds; which, if suffered to get dry 

 before they are sown, will remain two years in the soil ; but which, if sown in 

 autumn inmiediately after gathering them, generally come up the following 

 spring. The best time for transplanting this shrub is in October, as it begins 

 to vegetate very soon after Christmas. It thrives most in a loamy soil, and 

 in an open situation ; and, when it is properly treated, and has room, it will 

 in 8 or 10 years form a bush 5 ft. or 6 ft. high, and 7 ft. or 8 ft. in diameter. 

 There is a |)lant in the arboretum of Messrs. Loddiges, (i ft. high. Price of 

 plants, in the London nurseries, 50.s. a hundred; and of the autiuun-flowering 

 variety, l.v. Gd. a plant : at Bollwyller, 50 cents a plant : and at New York, 

 20 cents, and of the white-flowered variety, 50 cents. 



^ 2. D. altaMca Pall. The Altaic Daphne. 



Idrnlification. Pall. Fl. Ross., 1. p. 53. t. 35. ; Willd. Sp. I'l., 2. p. 422. ; Sims in 15ot. Mag., t. 1875. ; 



I-odd. (at, cd. 1836. 

 Si/nont/mcs. Daphne altaique, Laureolc dc Tartaric, Fr. ; Sibirischer Seidclbast, Grr. 

 Engravings. Pall. Fl. Koss., 1. t. 35. ; Hot. Wag., t. 1875. ; Hot. Cab., t. 399. ; and ouryi^. 1181. 



Sj)cc. Char., Sfc. Leaves obovate-lanceolate, glabrous. Flowers sessile, in 

 terminal umbels, about 5 in an umbel. (.SVw.? in Bot. i\fag., t. 1875.) Bark 

 reddish brown in colour. Leaves oblong, broatler towards the upper 

 extremity, and narrowed downwards, of a somewhat glaucous and 

 yellowish green, the latter colour prevailing most while they are young. 

 Flowers white, and scentless ; produced in May and June. Lobes of 



